“The 10.08-second man joins the nation’s rising sprinting stocks. This is going to be fun.”
Osei-Nketia, who was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia as a child, has represented New Zealand on several international stages, including the World Athletics Championships in Doha in 2019 and in Eugene, Oregon, in 2022.
In 2019, he won the Australian All Schools 100m title, representing St Edmund’s College, Canberra, before going on to claim the Australian U20 title while representing Canberra in 2019. It was later that year that he declared his allegiance to New Zealand, before the Oceania Championships.
After three years competing for New Zealand, missing out on selection for both the Commonwealth and Olympic Games, he made the decision to walk away from the track to join the University of Hawaii on an American football scholarship.
In the past 12 months, however, he has returned to athletics with the University of Southern California.
In a statement, Athletics New Zealand acknowledged Osei-Nketia’s decision.
“With Eddie’s immediate family, including his younger brother Augustine, based in Australia, Athletics New Zealand respects his decision to continue his athletic career across the Tasman.
“We wish Eddie all the very best in this next chapter and look forward to seeing him continue to thrive in the sport of athletics. Sprinting in Oceania has never been stronger and we celebrate the depth and talent continuing to emerge across the region.”