Nigerian track athletes shine on day 1 of NCAA Championships
Nigerian athletes delivered outstanding performances on the first day of the NCAA Championships, with all five competitors advancing to the finals in their respective events.
Men’s 100m
Three Nigerian sprinters, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Godson Brume, and Favour Ashe, qualified for the men’s 100m final, marking the second consecutive year that Nigeria will have three representatives in this event.
- Kanyinsola Ajayi: Ajayi won his heat with a remarkable time of 10.09 seconds, outperforming his senior compatriot.
- Favour Ashe: Ashe finished third in the same heat, clocking in at 10.13 seconds, securing one of the fastest non-automatic qualifying spots.
- Godson Brume: Brume qualified by finishing second in his heat with a time of 10.23 seconds, just behind Saminu Abdul-Rasheed from the University of South Florida who ran 10.14 seconds.
Men’s 400m
Teen sensation Samuel Ogazi from the University of Alabama continued his stellar season by winning his 400m heat with a time of 45.14 seconds. Ogazi, a freshman, is a strong contender for the title and will be aiming to challenge top favorite Christopher Morales Williams, who had the fastest qualifying time of 44.96 seconds.
Men’s 400m Hurdles
Ezekiel Nathaniel, the NCAA leader in the 400m hurdles with a personal best of 48.00 seconds, lived up to expectations by winning his heat in 48.93 seconds. Nathaniel, a junior at Baylor University, defeated two-time champion Sean Burrell and is the favorite for the final. A win would make Nathaniel Nigeria’s first homegrown athlete to achieve this feat in the event.
Looking Ahead
The Nigerian athletes are poised to make a significant impact in the finals, with hopes of capturing titles and setting new records. Ajayi, Brume, and Ashe will aim for top spots in the 100m final, while Ogazi and Nathaniel seek to capitalize on their strong form in the 400m and 400m hurdles, respectively.
