Just like last week, Nigerian athletes showed strong performances again. They are gearing up for the 2025 season. Some didn’t just impress—they set new NCAA indoor records.
It was a big week for Nigerian male quarter-milers. Nathaniel Ezekiel started 2025 strong. He won the men’s 400m at the DeLoss Dodds Invitational in Manhattan with 45.56s. He dominated the race, finishing almost two seconds ahead of his teammate, Dillon Bedell. Bedell ran 47.18s to place 2nd, just 0.02s off his personal best. His time is also the fastest by a Nigerian this season.
Edidiong Udo made a strong NCAA debut for Ohio State. He won the men’s 400m at the Stan Scott Invite in Lubbock, Texas, with 45.61s. It’s a personal best, the second-fastest time in the world this season, and the fourth-fastest ever by a Nigerian.
Tima Godbless competed at the Razorback Invitational in Arkansas. She finished 3rd in the women’s 60m with 7.34s after winning her heat in 7.30s. Jadyn Mays won in 7.20s, while Kaila Jackson took 2nd in 7.32s.
Alaba Akintola started his 2025 season at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational in Louisville. He ran 6.66s in the men’s 60m final, matching his semifinal time. He finished 3rd. Saminu Abdul-Rasheed won in 6.59s, while Neo Mosebi took 2nd in 6.62s.
Udodi Onwuzurike ran 6.66s in the men’s 60m at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. It’s his season’s best. He finished behind Noah Lyles (6.55s) and Terrance Jones (6.59s). He placed 5th overall in the semifinals but won’t run in the final.
Chidi Okezie ran 46.54s to win his men’s 400m heat at the Belgrade Indoor Meet. It’s his season’s best and his second-fastest indoor time since his 46.48s PB in 2016. Gilles Biron from France finished 2nd in 46.77s, while Rok Ferlan took 3rd in 46.96s.
Tabugbo Adaobi, a UCF athlete, proves that patience pays off. She had been chasing a sub-8s time and finally did it, running 8.06s in Lubbock. Eserogheene Awusa also impressed, clocking 8.23s in the semifinals.
The Sophomore of UTEP Miners, Rejoice Sule, ran 23.47s in the women’s 200m. She is now the fastest Nigerian over this distance in 2025. Her indoor personal best remains 23.44s, set last year.
At the UW Invite, Omogor Blossom set a new school record and personal best in the women’s 400m, running 54.87s. Opeyemi Oke from Auburn also had a strong performance. She clocked 53.44s at the Bob Pollock Invitational, an indoor PB, improving on her 54.44s from last week.
