The 2025 indoor athletics season is off to an electrifying start, with Nigerian athletes showcasing remarkable performance across various competitions. At the Nevada Invitational, Joshua, the African Under-20 record holder, stormed to victory in the 60m dash with a scintillating time of 6.59 seconds, setting the tone for an exciting season. Similarly, NCAA Silver medalist Samuel Ogazi began his campaign on a strong note, clocking 34.11 seconds to place third in the men’s 300m at the Orange & Purple Invitational. These performances highlight the readiness of these athletes to dominate the global stage.
Personal bests were a recurring theme in this weekend’s events. Prosper Ekporere impressed at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational by shaving off 0.06 seconds from his previous best to record a time of 7.83 seconds in the men’s 60m hurdles final, securing a silver medal. Oke Gift Ovedje also delivered a standout performance, setting a new college best of 7.76 seconds in the women’s 60m heat at the same event. Meanwhile, Oke Opeyemi dazzled in the 400m at the Orange & Purple Invitational, finishing second in her heat with a personal best of 54.44 seconds, showcasing her growth and potential as a sophomore at Auburn University.
Among the standout performances, Nigeria’s Adeshina Temitope emerged as a dominant force at the Texas Tech Red Raider Invite. The reigning NCAA Bronze medalist cleared an impressive height of 1.93m in the high jump, leading a 1-2-3-4 finish for Texas Tech and solidifying her position as the NCAA’s top ranked athlete in the event. Similarly, Meekness Dogonyaro left the Nevada Invitational with a personal best of 5.62m in the women’s long jump, demonstrating her consistency and resilience. Success Umukoro also secured a bronze medal in the women’s 200m with a time of 23.50 seconds, reinforcing Nigeria’s prowess in sprints. Erhire Best was not left aside he soars to victory with a Season’s Best of 2.20m at the Red Raider Invite.
The Nigerian athletes performances extended to the sprint events, where several recorded college best times. Adekalu Fakorede blazed to victory in the men’s 60m at the Orange & Purple Invitational, improving his record to 6.60 seconds. Isreal Okon Sunday followed closely, setting his personal best of 6.63 seconds for third place. In the women’s 60m, Faith Okwose narrowly missed her college best with a time of 7.35 seconds in the final, while Mercy Umoibang shattered her record by clocking 7.34 seconds at the Texas Tech Red Raider meet. These performances underline the depth of talent in Nigerian athletics.
As the season progresses, Nigerian athletes continue to break barriers, set records, and inspire on the global stage. From sprint events to field competitions. These early season results promise an exciting year ahead, as these athletes aim to maintain their momentum and achieve even greater feats. With such outstanding performances, Nigeria’s presence in collegiate and international athletics is undeniably growing stronger.
