Every Athletics season reveals a pool of talented athletes who possess the necessary attributes to dominate their events for years to come, provided their potential is fully realized. Reflecting on the impressive performances of Nigerian athletes in 2024, we’ve shortlisted eight individuals who truly broke through this year, making significant strides in the athletics world.
Most of these athletes were relatively unknown prior to 2024, but today, they have captured the attention of even the most casual followers of Nigerian Athletics. They are increasingly recognized as the next generation of talent poised for global acclaim. Part 1 of this series features Nos. 8 to 5 on our list.
8. CHARLES GODFRED
While Nigerian women have enjoyed success in the Long Jump over the years, the men have also made significant strides in the sport, with Charles Godfred emerging as a notable figure in 2024. Godfred, who moved to Minnesota on a scholarship, has played a key role in enhancing the visibility and competitiveness of male Long Jumpers in Nigeria.
Like many others, Godfred experienced a period of adjustment as he acclimated to the competitive environment in Minnesota. However, by summer, he found his stride, setting new Personal Bests (PBs) in both the 100m and 200m in his first competition for the school.
As the African U-20 Champion from 2023, Godfred was no stranger to victory, and this was quickly evident when he set a new lifetime best of 7.91m to win his first outdoor Long Jump competition in Texas. He made a significant leap at his next event, going out to an impressive 8.14m, backed by a wind-aided jump of 8.19m. With this performance, he shattered the 29-year-old School Record of 8.12m set by Keita Cline.
He secured his first major title at the Big Ten Championships and earned a Bronze medal as a member of the school’s 4x100m relay team. As a freshman, he qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, where he finished 6th.
Godfred concluded his remarkable season by setting a new Personal Best of 8.16m, capturing his first national title at the Nigerian Athletics Championships in Benin. This was a historic competition, as it was the first time three Nigerian men surpassed 8m in the same competition.
7. CONSIDER EKANEM
Consider Ekanem emerged as one of Nigeria’s most promising sprint talents, making an early impression at the Dynamic Athletics Meet in Lagos where he clinched wins in both the 60m and 100m, setting new PBs of 6.70s and 10.10s respectively.
At the MTN CHAMPS/AFN National Trials in Asaba, he beat the gun and was disqualified in the 100m final, a disappointing outcome which he made up for in the 200m where he stormed to a new PB of 20.43s, the fourth fastest time ever run by a Nigerian man on home soil.
Ekanem’s performances earned him a spot at the African Games in Ghana where he reached the finals of both the 100m and 200m, capturing a Bronze in the 200m – his first international medal for Nigeria. Additionally, he played a crucial role in Nigeria’s 4x100m relay team, winning GOLD and helping the team qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics at the World Relays in the Bahamas.
He was having a jolly ride until he picked up an injury at the MoC Grand Prix in Lagos where he finished an unusual 6th place in the 100m. With the Nigerian Olympic Trials only two weeks away, he entered into another race against time for some fitness and managed to make the final of both events in Benin, finishing 7th over 100m and a very respectable 3rd in the 200m.
6. SUNDAY ISRAEL OKON
Sunday Israel Okon kicked off the year with a standout victory in the men’s 100m final at the African Games Trials in Asaba. Clocking a new Personal Best (PB) of 10.20s, he defeated a competitive field, then followed up with another PB of 20.87s in the 200m.
This commanding performance immediately put Okon in the spotlight, setting the tone for a remarkable season. He earned a spot on Nigeria’s team for the African Games, where he narrowly missed the 100m final but played a key role in Nigeria’s success, leading off the men’s 4x100m relay team that went on to capture GOLD.
Okon matched his 100m PB at the 4th MoC Grand Prix and was later selected for the CAA Region II Championships in Ghana. There, after surviving a disqualification scare, he ran a new PB of 10.12s to win the Silver medal.
At the Nigerian Athletics Championships in Benin, he placed 6th in the men’s 100m final and delivered a surprise in the 200m, setting a new PB of 20.80s to claim the national title, outpacing more seasoned competitors.
Okon emerged as one of Nigeria’s most improved sprinters in 2024, achieving six PBs throughout the season. He’ll compete as a member of the Auburn track roster for the 2025 season.
5. OLAYINKA OLAJIDE
The year 2024 marked a significant breakout season for Olayinka Olajide. After sometime off the sport, her appearance at the Dynamic Athletics Meet in Lagos in January was her first major competition in two years.
On that day, Olajide competed in and won three races – 60m, 100m and 400m – in a span of six hours, setting PBs of 7.50s, 11.37s and 55.35s respectively.
She really took flight less than a month later at the African Games National Trials in Asaba where she delivered a stunning performance, storming to a new PB of 11.19s to win the women’s 100m. She followed this up with another PB of 23.24s in the 200m, securing her place to compete in both events at the African Games in Ghana.
At the African Games, she won Nigeria’s first medal in Athletics, claiming a Bronze in the women’s 100m which made her the first Nigerian woman in 12 years to achieve this feat. She also copped two other medals: a Silver at 200m and GOLD in the 4x100m, proving to be a vital asset on the Nigerian relay team for the season.
Olajide claimed two Silver medals at the CAA Region II Championships in Ghana where she ran a PB of 23.16s in the 200m. She also secured 2nd place in both the women’s 100m and 200m at the Nigerian Athletics Championships.
Despite a demanding season, she reached the African Championships in Douala, where she made the women’s 100m final and earned a GOLD medal in the 4x100m relay. Her impressive performances led to her selection for the Nigerian team at the Olympic Games in Paris, and she is set to compete on the Texas Tech roster in the NCAA next year.
