World Athletics Ultimate Championship confirms elite athlete invitations

The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, scheduled for September 2026 in Budapest, Hungary, has confirmed several exceptional invitations for its elite field. Among the notable additions to the men’s 1500m final are Great Britain’s Josh Kerr and Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Kerr, a former world champion, and Ingebrigtsen, an Olympic champion, will join a competitive field that includes US champion Cole Hocker and Portugal’s Isaac Nader. To accommodate these invitations, the men’s 1500m field will expand to 13 athletes.

Nigeria is also preparing a significant contingent for the event, which will take place at the National Athletics Centre. Qualified Nigerian athletes include Tobi Amusan, Nathaniel Ezekiel, Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, and Kayinsola Ajayi. The championship aims to bring together Olympic and World champions, including stars such as Mondo Duplantis, Noah Lyles, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, to crown the top performers of the 2026 season.