Samuel Ogazi delivered a sensational performance to win the NCAA men’s 400m title, clocking 44.84s and becoming only the second Nigerian man in history to win the event joining Clement Chukwu, who last claimed the crown in 1999. After settling for silver in 2024, Ogazi returned to the championship stage with a mission, executing a near flawless race to capture gold and solidify his status among the best one lap runners in collegiate and Nigerian history.
Ogazi’s road to NCAA glory was far from smooth. The Alabama athlete began the year recovering from an injury sustained during his debut 300m indoor race. Rather than force an early comeback, he made the strategic decision to skip the indoor season and focus on returning stronger outdoors. That patience paid off. He went on to win the SEC outdoor title and stamped his ticket to nationals with a lightning quick 44.43s at the East Prelims just 0.02s shy of his personal best of 44.41s, a mark he set as a finalist at the Tokyo Olympics. At the NCAA semifinals in Eugene, Ogazi reinforced his dominance by clocking the fastest time across all heats with 44.77s.
Now, with a gold medal around his neck and momentum on his side, Ogazi is primed for the global stage once again. His performance at the NCAA Championships sends a clear message ahead of the upcoming World Championships, he’s back, he’s healthy, and he’s ready to challenge for a podium finish. Having already reached the Olympic final, Ogazi’s progression suggests he could be a serious medal contender this time around. Nigerian athletics is on the rise, and Samuel Ogazi is right at the heart of its resurgence.
