Outdoor season is upon us and Nigerian athletes in diaspora went on a high to drop dazzling times in their various disciplines even going out to world leading performances.
At the Florida Relays, Favour Ashe competed in his first outdoors meet, his second overall in 2024 and instantly shocked the world striking the Olympic Standard as he went on to clock a world leading time of 9.99s becoming the first man in the world to go under the 10s barrier. Stephen Eloji recorded a season’s best of 13.68s in the men’s 110m hurdles finishing 4th behind Ja’Kobe Tharp who took the victory in 13.46s from Darius Luff in an identical time.
Downwind at the battle of the bayou, Favour Ofili blazed to her fastest time in all conditions as she won the women’s 100m in a time of 10.85s(2.6m/s) ahead of Brianna Lyston (10.87s) and McKenzie Long (10.89s). Her stunning performance came moments after her fast finishing anchor leg for the Tigers. Tima God bless went on to impressive windy times of 11.14s and 23.16s to win her respective heats in both sprint’s events. Watch Favour Ofili’s 100m race via this link.
Making a memorable NCAA outdoor debut was Samuel Ogazi who shattered his PR to win his heat in a massive 45.35s. His time was the second fastest time overall in the competition and second fastest time in the nation this season behind Chidi Okezie’s 45.06s at the African Games. Dubem Amene clocked 46.01s in his heat. Godson Brume started his outdoor campaign over the 100m running a fast legal time of 10.17s in the men’s 100m after previously clocking a fast 20.74s in the half lap event a day prior. He also anchored his team to victory in the men’s 4×100m in a time of 39.14s.
Ezekiel Nathaniel clocked a SB of 49.57s in the men’s 400m hurdles to claim second place behind Chris Robinson who ran a meeting record of 49.13s to claim victory in the event. Freshman Djoma Fejiro leapt to an impressive 5.84m in the women’s long jump (2.4m/s) and also recorded a season’s opener of 12.68m in the triple jump enough for a 4th place finish. Her performance were good enough back up jumps for her 5.98m PR she recorded a couple of weeks ago.
Also, at the Texas Relays, Temitope Adeshina won the women’s high jump clearing a height of 1.87m. She went on to attempt heights of 1.93m. Justine Jimoh who started his season on a high, won the men’s high jump final B scaling a new Personal Record of 2.16m edging Antwain Jones on count back. Hamid Ali was 3rd in 2.11m. African Junior champion, Grace Oshiokpu made a fifth place finish in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 12.96m.
Rejoice Sule a freshman from Utep clocked a windy PR of 11.32s(2.9m/s) to secure third place in heat 5 of the women’s 100m. She also helped her team in the 4×100m where they finished 5th. Karlington Anunagba in his first race as a college graduate ran a scorching 10.05s (3.0m/s) to finish 5th overall in the men’s 100m at the Texas Relays. Rosemary Chukwuma competing in her first outdoor race, finished second in heat 1 and fifth overall with a time of 23.10s(2.3m/s) a race where world silver medalist finished ahead of the field in a world leading time of 22.08s.
Utitofon Sam a sophomore at Texas state achieved a personal best in the women’s discus securing a personal best of 54.38s. She also majored in the hammer throw achieving her second farthest mark of the season at 50.75m.
Additionally, athletic heat CEO Eseroghene Oguma recorded two personal best in the sprint events last weekend where he ran 10.70s (3.5m/s) and 21.70s(1.8m/s) at the Bobcat invitational. He also anchored his team to victory in section 4 of the men’s 4×100m where they ran 41.27s. He concluded his weekend on a high with another windy 10.77s (2.8m/s).