Ajayi, Ogazi, Adeshina win NCAA titles in record-breaking Nigerian showcase

By Maxwell Kumoye 

 

Nigerian athletes delivered a sensational display at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville over the weekend, as Kanyinsola Ajayi, Samuel Ogazi, and Temitope Adeshina stormed to national titles in record-breaking fashion.

Sprint sensation Ajayi produced one of the defining moments of the championships, blazing to victory in the men’s 60m in 6.45 seconds, equalling both the African record and the NCAA collegiate record while representing the Auburn Tigers track and field.

The Nigerian surged clear in a stacked final to defeat American rival Jelani Watkins, who claimed silver in 6.48s. 

Ajayi had earlier matched the collegiate mark during the season and repeated the feat in the championship race, becoming the first athlete this year to equal the record twice.

Compatriot Israel Okon also featured strongly in the final, finishing fifth in 6.57s.

In the men’s 400m, Ogazi produced another historic performance, powering to victory for the Alabama Crimson Tide track and field in 44.57s to claim the national title.

His winning time set new Nigerian and African indoor records, while also ranking third on the NCAA all-time list and fourth on the world indoor all-time rankings. 

Ogazi finished ahead of Justin Braun of Florida, who clocked 44.67s for silver.

The Nigerian later returned to the track as part of Alabama’s 4x400m relay team alongside Mouatez Sikiou, Tarsis Orogot, and Alexander Osayemi, helping the quartet secure silver in 3:03.60.

In the women’s high jump, Adeshina successfully defended her national title, clearing 1.97m to equal her personal best and Nigerian record.

The victory gave the Nigerian high jumper back-to-back NCAA indoor titles, as she held off Ghana’s Rose Yeboah, who cleared 1.94m for silver, while Alyssa Jones took bronze with 1.91m.

Adeshina attempted 2.00m after sealing victory, a height that would have equalled the NCAA indoor record but narrowly missed in three attempts.

Nigeria’s impressive outing was further boosted by Ella Onojuvwevwo, who clinched bronze in the women’s 400m with a time of 50.76s.

Onojuvwevwo had earlier set a new African indoor record of 50.28s in the qualifying round, underlining Nigeria’s growing influence on the American collegiate athletics scene.