The NCAA season kicked off in full swing this past weekend with a lot of athletes swarming across various meets in the United States, including several Nigerian athletes who either made their return or debut within the collegiate scene.
The Nigerian nightmare, Favour Ashe got back to business like he never left, storming to an impressive time of 6.53s, the second fastest time in the world this year and 0.02 shy of his Personal Best (PB), to win the men’s 60m.
Ashe’s time was the fastest opener done by a sprinter during the first week of competition in NCAA history, not until Texas Tech’s Dondra Swint ran a World Lead (WL) of 6.52s two days later.
The Nigerian defeated Jekovan Rhetta who came in 2nd with 6.66s, while Makanaishe Charamba placed 3rd in 6.72s. He returned to the track in the men’s 300m where he won his heat in a PB of 33.82s, moving him to 4th on the Nigerian all-time indoor list.
Virginia Commonwealth’s freshman Emmanuel Oche broke his School Record (SR) twice over the 60m in his debut appearance in the NCAA circuit.
He first did it in the heats where he was the top qualifier with a time of 6.74s, and then finished 2nd in the final, running a Personal Best (PB) of 6.68s.
Texas Tech’s Success Umukoro competed at the Stan Scott Memorial in Texas where she clocked a PB of 7.30s to finish 2nd in the women’s 60m behind teammate, Alyssa Colbert (7.19s). This was her first time donning the red, white, and black colours after a successful transfer from South Plains in the summer of 2023.
Joy Udo-Gabriel wasn’t left out as well. The West Texas A&M freshman ran two PBs and finished 3rd with a time of 7.37s. She ran a 7.43 in the heats.
Houston’s Miracle Thompson won the women’s 60m hurdles at the Leonard Hilton Invitational, turning in a time of 8.38s. She beat Kaitlin Smith who was 2nd in 8.45s, while Dyandra Gray was 3rd in 8.48s. Ese Awusa also made her debut for UCF, running 8.62s, while her teammate Adaobi Tabugbo managed 8.76s.
Elsewhere, reigning 100m champion Usheoritse Itsekiri opened his indoor season campaign with a win in the 60m dash at the Sanderson Classic in Canada. He ran 6.67s in the final round and 6.77s in the prelims.
Ezekiel Nathaniel competed in the men’s 800m at the McFerrin – 12 Degree Invitational in Texas! He finished 4th with a time of 1:53.74.
JUMPS
Chidozie Kalu made his debut for Virginia Tech at the VT Invitational, winning the men’s Triple Jump with a mark of 15.94m. All the jumps in his series could have been enough to take the win. David Coles (VCU) was 2nd with 15.36m and Mikai Hunt 3rd with 15.13m.
At the Stan Scott Memorial, Temitope Adeshina made her collegiate debut for Texas Tech where she cleared all her heights on the first attempt to secure the win in 1.83m over her resilient teammate, Claire Lowrey who also cleared the same height as her but had to settle for 2nd on countback.
Meanwhile, Joseph Edafiadhe also won the men’s Long Jump leaping to a distance of 7.51m.
Best Erhire finished 2nd in the men’s Triple Jump with 15.52m, while Onaara Obamuwagun won the women’s equivalent with a mark of 12.86m.
