It was a busy weekend for Oral Roberts University (ORU) Sophomore Omeiza Akerele, as the sprinter was in action for his school at the Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which was held between May 12 and 14.
The Nigerian athlete claimed medals in all four events he participated in. Akerele first ran in the heats of the 400m, then the 200m on Day 2 of the competition, qualifying for the final of both events in 48.76s and 21.50s respectively.
On Day 3 and final day of competition, he anchored ORU’s 4x100m relay team comprising of Michael Burns, D’Khari Hicks and Joseph Reis-Herron to a Championship Record (CR) of 40.49s, erasing the former mark set in 1999.
South Dakota ‘A’ was 2nd in 40.56s, while South Dakota State ‘A’ placed 3rd in 41.69s.
He then stormed to a 2nd place finish in the final of the 400m, clocking 47.19s in the race that was won by team mate Hicks in 46.81s, while Landon Jochim of North Dakota State placed 3rd in 47.89s.
Hicks also won the 200m in 20.84s, while Gawain Williams and Akerele won Silver and Bronze respectively in 21.10s and 21.16s.
In the final event, which was the men’s 4x400m, Akerele ran the second leg and partnered with Kenneth James, Hicks and Reinhard Ndlovu, taking the victory in the team’s fastest time since 2011, clocking 3:13.91.
North Dakota State ‘A’ returned a time of 3:16.24 to place 2nd, while South Dakota State ‘A’ posted 3:16.98 to follow in 3rd position.
