Nigerian college athletes produced brilliant performances on Day 1 of the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Nigerian athletes in the US college circuit were in outstanding form on Day 1 of the NCAA Indoor Championships, as the trio of Kanyinsola Ajayi, Ezekiel Nathaniel, and Ella Onojuvwevwo qualified for the final of their respective events.
In the men’s 60m event, Ajayi clocked an exceptional Personal Best (PB) of 6.48s to finish third in his heat and make the time. His brilliant time equaled Deji Aliu’s 1999 National Record (NR) and ranks him second on the African all-time list behind Kuffour’s 6.45s.
In addition, the Auburn University sophomore became only the third Nigerian sprinter in history to run below the sub-6.50s mark after Aliu and Olusoji Fasuba, and will be gunning to lower his time in the final with his goal on claiming his first NCAA title.
Kanyinsola Ajayi (middle) during his 60m heat at the NCAA Indoor Championships
Consequently, his teammate Israel Okon also made the final after winning his heat in 6.54s. The youngster with a PB of 6.51s will be gunning to smash this time and aim for his first medal at the NCAA, which can likely see him break the world junior record. Also Fakorede Adekalu of Mississippi State University made the final after finishing third in his heat in 6.56s.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel continued his unbeaten start of the season after conveniently winning his 400m heat in 45.44s to book his spot in the final.
The 21-year-old Baylor University junior is also the fastest (44.74s) in the NCAA so far this season and will be aiming to be the first Nigerian student-athlete in collegiate history to win the 400m title.
Likewise, Onojuvwevwo won her 400m heat in 51.61s to make the final and will be gunning to make the podium for her school Louisiana State University.
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