Nigerian athletes produced record-breaking performances across various meets within the NCAA circuit over the weekend, showing their readiness for the 2025 season.
Ezekiel Nathaniel made history by becoming the fastest African in the indoor 400m. He ran a stunning 44.92s, breaking the previous African Record of 45.18s set by Uganda’s Eugene Omalla. Nathaniel set his huge PB in Texas, running in lane 6. He is now the first African man to run under 45s indoors and also erased Sunday Bada’s long-standing 45.51s Nigerian Indoor Record, which stood for 28 years.
Last week, Nathaniel ran 45.56s but this time around, he went for the top spot and delivered. His time makes him the second fastest man in the world this year and the 15th fastest in 400m indoor history. Nathaniel is also the Nigerian Record holder in the 400m hurdles and can excel in both events.
Kanyinsola Ajayi ran in the men’s 60m at the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson. He won his heat in 6.58s, just 0.01s off his PB. Earlier, Nicholas Fakorede (Mississippi) ran 6.60s, equaling his PB and narrowly beating T’Mars McCallum, who clocked the same time.
In the semifinals, Ajayi stepped up, running a big PB of 6.51s to win. His time matches the School Record set by Favour Ashe in 2022. It also puts him 4th on Nigeria’s all-time list, tied with Davidson Ezinwa. Only three Nigerian men have ever run faster—Deji Aliu (6.48s), Olusoji Fasuba (6.49s), and Tosin Ogunode (6.50s).
Sunday Israel Okon ran a huge PB of 6.52s to win his 60m semifinal at the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson. He is now the third-fastest man in Auburn history. Three Nigerians hold the top spots – Favour Ashe (6.51s), Kanyinsola Ajayi (6.51s) and Okon. Behind Okon, Fakorede also set a PB of 6.58s. He is now the second-fastest man ever at Mississippi State University.
Also racing at the Tiger Paw Invitational was Edidiong Udo who competed in the men’s 400m, finishing 2nd in his section with 46.42s. Two weeks ago, he made his 400m debut for Ohio State, running a massive PB of 45.61s. Williams Jones won the race in 46.32s.
Tima Godbless sent a strong message with a stunning 7.08s run to win her 60m semifinal at the Tyson Invitational in Arkansas. Only three Nigerian women have ever run faster. Her time is now the NCAA lead and the third fastest in the world this year.
She is now tied with Endurance Ojokolo as the fourth-fastest Nigerian woman in history. She dominated the race, leaving previous NCAA leader Indya Mayberry (7.23s) in third place. Earlier, she ran a sharp 7.14s to win her heat. She beat Alicia Burnett (7.23s), who finished second. Natasha Morrison took third in 7.33s, while Tina Clayton placed fourth with 7.37s.
Chioma Nwachukwu and Ella Onojuvwevwo dominated the women’s 400m at the Tyson Invitational, finishing 1st and 2nd respectively. Nwachukwu edged out her compatriot in their head-to-head race, lowering her PB again to 52.25s. Onojuvwevwo also set an Indoor PB of 52.44s. Both Nigerians finished ahead of Olympic finalist Sada Williams, who placed third in 53.25s.
Onojuvwevwo also shined in the 200m, setting another PB of 23.11s to place second overall across 16 heats. Tima Godbless competed in the same event, finishing 2nd in her section with 23.45s.
Emmanuel Njoku won the long jump for Iowa with an indoor PB of 7.69m at the Tyson Invitational, making it his second appearance for the team.
At the Don Kirby Elite meet in New Mexico, Prosper Ekporere ran a new lifetime best of 7.68s to win the men’s 60m hurdles. He is now the second-fastest Nigerian ever in the event, just behind Selim Nurudeen (7.64s). He also broke the GCU School Record in the process.
Goodness Iredia hit a new indoor PB of 7.90m to win the men’s long jump at the Windy City Invitational in Wisconsin. He broke his own School Record and is now second on Nigeria’s season top list.
At the Music City Challenge in Tennessee, Alaba Akintola and Gracious Ushie were in action. Ushie ran 6.66s (SB) in the qualifying rounds for Southern Mississippi.
Akintola ran 6.65s in the first round of the men’s 60m. Kingsley Unorji, Ushie, and Olaolu Olatunde also won their respective heats and advanced to the semifinals. In the final, Akintola improved to a Sseason’s Best of 6.60s, finishing 2nd.
Folawiyo Olaoye raced at ISTAF Berlin, finishing fifth in the men’s 60m final with 6.63s. He had earlier run the same time in the qualifiers, tying with Akani Simbine for 2nd place. In the final, Simbine improved to an indoor PB of 6.57s, finishing 2nd behind Heiko Gussmann, who also ran 6.57s.
National Record holder Chukwuebuka Enekwechi competed at the Copernicus Cup in Torun where he threw a Season’s Best (SB) of 21.13m. It was his first 21m throw of the season, placing him 3rd. His mark is now the sixth farthest in the world this year. Fabbri won with 21.62m, while teammate Zane Weir finished 2nd, also throwing 21.13m but finishing ahead of the Nigerian on countback.
