In 2024, Nigerian Track and Field athletes left an indelible mark on the global stage, setting new National Records (NR) and in some cases, African Records, pushing boundaries in remarkable ways. These standout performances don’t just raise the bar; they rewrite history, placing Nigeria firmly on the map in world Athletics.
- Tobi Amusan shatters 25-year-old Nigerian & African Record in the 60m Hurdles
World Record (WR) holder Tobi Amusan, known for her blazing 12.12s in the 100m hurdles set at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, rewrote Nigerian history once again in the course of 2024, breaking Glory Alozie’s previous National and African Record of 7.82s in the 60m hurdles set in Madrid in 1999. Amusan clocked an impressive 7.77s at the Astana Indoor Meeting in Kazakhstan back in January, and further lowered the time to 7.75s the following month, cementing her status as one of the world’s best athletes in the event.
2. Favour Ofili races to new 150m, 200m & 300m Nigerian & African Record
Favour Ofili’s name has become synonymous with resilience as the Nigerian has consistently taken her success to new heights with standout performances across multiple events. Competing at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in February, she clocked 35.99s in the 300m, breaking Amantle Montsho’s 14-year-old African Record of 36.33s.
The following month, she sailed to a new indoor Nigerian and African Record of 22.11s over 200m, improving on her former record of 22.36s. Whilst making her debut at the Adidas City Games in Atlanta, Ofili broke the 150m African Record in her first time over the event with a spectacular time of 16.30s, which puts her joint second with Candace Hill and the late Tori Bowie on the all-time list.
3. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi extends Shot put National Record-breaking form to 2024
Nigerian shot-put star Chukwuebuka Enekwechi has established himself as a powerhouse in the event and has constantly improved on his Nigerian Record in the event since taking over from Stephen Mozia as National Record holder in 2019. In 2024, the multi time continental champion improved on his previous mark of 21.80m, replacing it with a superior record of 21.91m to finish 3rd at the Prefontaine Classic back in May.
4. Temitope Adeshina breaks High Jump Indoor & Outdoor National Record in NCAA debut season
Nigerian High jumper Temitope Adeshina has continued to raise the bar in her event. Competing indoors earlier on in 2024 in only her second outing for Texas Tech, she made an outstanding leap of 1.96m, a new lifetime best to erase Doreen Amata’s previous indoor National Record of 1.93m. The jumper also made a mark by extending her outright record by 1cm whilst competing at the NCAA Championships where she settled for 3rd with 1.97m, bettering Doreen Amata’s former outdoor record of 1.95m.
5. Ezekiel Nathaniel smashes 400m Hurdles Nigerian Record twice
In April 2024 while competing at the Tom Jones Invitational in Florida, Ezekiel Nathaniel outdid himself by racing to a new Personal Best (PB), National Record and School Record, clocking an impressive 48.29s to earn automatic qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The following month, he made waves at the Big 12 Championships where he clinched the 400m hurdles title with a stunning lifetime best and Nigerian Record of 48.00s, which was also a Meet Record and Facility Record.
6. Chinecherem Nnamdi throws new National Record in men’s Javelin event
Chinecherem Nnamdi continued his ascent in the men’s Javelin by stamping his legacy at the African Games in Accra, Ghana. On his very first attempt, he threw a new Personal Best and Nigerian Record of 82.80m to become the first Nigerian man to surpass 82m in the javelin, and also the country’s first GOLD medallist in the men’s event at the African Games in nearly three decades, securing his title as the country’s undisputed javelin king.
7. Team Nigeria sets new Nigerian & African Records in Mixed 4x400m in Accra, Bahamas & Paris
Nigeria’s record-breaking streak in the mixed 4x400m kicked off at the African Games in March as Emmanuel Ojeli, Patience Okon George, Sikiru Adeyemi, and Omolara Ogunmakinju ran a historic race to win GOLD in a new African Record of 3:13.26. The team further made history a couple of months later at the World Relays in the Bahamas as Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Chidi Okezie and Esther Joseph brought the baton home in a new Continental Record of 3:12.87.
The Paris Olympics was another opportunity for Nigeria to set a new record in the event as Ogazi, Onojuvwevwo, Ojeli and Okon-George ran the race of their lives to set a superior African Record of 3:11.99 at the Games.
