Nigerian athletes produced a series of outstanding performances at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville on Sunday midnight as Kanyinsola Ajayi, Samuel Ogazi and Temitope Adeshina each claimed national titles in record-breaking fashion, Sports Extra reports.
Representing Auburn Tigers track and field, Kanyinsola Ajayi delivered one of the highlights of the competition by winning the men’s 60m in 6.45s, a time that equalled both the African record and the NCAA collegiate record.
The Nigerian sprint sensation surged clear in a high-quality final to finish ahead of American sprinter Jelani Watkins, who took silver in 6.48s.
Ajayi had previously matched the collegiate record earlier in the season and repeated the feat again in the championship race, becoming the first athlete this year to equal the mark twice.
Fellow Nigerian Israel Okon also impressed in the final, finishing fifth in 6.57s to round off a strong showing.
Another historic moment came in the men’s 400m where Samuel Ogazi powered to victory while representing the Alabama Crimson Tide track and field.
Ogazi crossed the line in 44.57s to claim the national title, setting a new Nigerian and African indoor record in the process.
His time also ranked third on the NCAA all-time list and fourth on the world indoor all-time rankings, making him the only athlete from outside North America among the top 10. The race proved tightly contested, with Florida’s Justin Braun finishing second in 44.67s.
Ogazi later returned to the track as part of Alabama’s 4x400m relay team alongside Mouatez Sikiou, Tarsis Orogot and Alexander Osayemi, helping the quartet finish as national runners-up with a time of 3:03.60.
In the women’s high jump, Nigerian athlete Temitope Adeshina successfully defended her national title with a clearance of 1.97m, equalling her personal best and Nigerian record.
The mark secured back-to-back indoor championships for the high jumper and reaffirmed her status among the leading collegiate athletes in the event.
Adeshina overcame strong competition from Ghana’s Rose Yeboah, who cleared 1.94m to take silver, while American jumper Alyssa Jones claimed bronze with a height of 1.91m.
After sealing victory, the Nigerian attempted 2.00m, which would have equalled the NCAA indoor record, but was unable to clear the bar in three attempts.
Nigeria’s strong showing at the championships was further highlighted by the performance of Ella Onojuvwevwo, who won bronze in the women’s 400m. The quarter-miler finished third overall in the timed final with a time of 50.76s.
Onojuvwevwo had earlier produced one of the standout runs of the competition in the qualifying round, clocking 50.28s to set a new African indoor record in the event.