Samuel Ogazi showed so much promise while he was in Nigeria, competing on the tracks of Kaduna where he was discovered and has now finally delivered on the promise shown, becoming the 2nd fastest Nigerian man in history over 400m with an astonishing 44.58s!
Competing in the final of the men’s 400m at the SEC Outdoor Championships, the freshman for the University of Alabama got his typical conservative start to the race.
Despite having indoor NCAA Record holder Chrostopher Morales-Williams on his inside, the Georgia recruit flying past him by the time they hit the 200m mark, he didn’t panic and settled in rather nicely as the momentum built.
Ogazi reached down deep as they reached the second half of the race, making up ground and motoring past three other athletes ahead of him to finally hit a crescendo, finishing 2nd with the second fastest time in the NCAA this year and ahead of very experienced athletes.
His time not only surpassed the Olympic standard of 45.00s by a mile, but also saw him through as the fastest Nigerian man since Innocent Egbunike set the National Record 37 years ago in 44.17s!
He also smashed the School Record and was only making a return from helping the Nigerian mixed 4x400m team to an African Record and Olympic qualification at the World Relays.
