Source: Radio New Zealand
Eddie Osei-Nketia. PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand sprinter and national 100m record holder Eddie Osei-Nketia has officially switched allegiances to Australia.
Osei-Nketia broke his dad Gus Nketia’s record at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, stopping the clock at 10.08 seconds. He came close to breaking the 10 second barrier earlier this year.
The 24-year-old, who is based in the US, is now set to race for Australia.
Governing body Australian Athletics posted on Instagram to announce the news. “Welcome, Edward Osei-Nketia,” the post said.
“He has been lighting up Australian tracks for years but Edward Osei-Nketia is now officially eligible to represent Australia on the world stage, successfully completing his transfer of allegiance from New Zealand.
“The 10.08-second man joins the nation’s rising sprinting stocks. This is going to be fun.”
Osei-Nketia is also the New Zealand 200m record holder, bettering the mark with a 20.24s finish earlier this year at a meet in the US.
He also ran 9.96s over 100m at a college meet in Texas in April although it was wind-assisted.
He last represented New Zealand in 2022 at the World Champs and earlier this year Australian Athletics confirmed he had requested a transfer of allegiance.
Osei-Nketia moved to the US after leaving New Zealand and had a crack at American football in Hawaii, before getting back on the sprinting track for the University of Southern California in 2024.
He has been based in the US since.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
