The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has hailed the performances of Nigerian athletes at the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, describing their achievements as a powerful signal of what lies ahead for the country’s athletics programme, Sunday PUNCH reports.
- +AFN lauds Ajayi, Ogazi after NCAA triumphs
Nigeria’s contingent lit up Hayward Field, with Kanyinsola Ajayi and Samuel Ogazi winning the men’s 100 metres and 400 metres titles respectively in performances that turned heads across the global athletics community.
Nigeria’s contingent lit up Hayward Field, with Kanyinsola Ajayi and Samuel Ogazi winning the men’s 100 metres and 400 metres titles respectively in performances that turned heads across the global athletics community.
Ajayi, representing Auburn University, stormed to the 100m title in a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds — a time that would have shattered the African record of 9.77 seconds held by Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, had a tailwind of +2.2m/s not rendered it ineligible for record purposes.
The 21-year-old pulled clear of the field in the closing stages, with LSU’s Jaiden Reid finishing second in 9.82 seconds and Arkansas’ Jelani Watkins taking third.
The victory made Ajayi the first Nigerian to win the NCAA men’s 100m title since Divine Oduduru achieved the feat in 2019, and only the third Nigerian overall after Olapade Adenekan and Oduduru.
Ogazi was equally breathtaking in the 400m, defending his NCAA title in record-breaking fashion. The Alabama University athlete clocked 43.38 seconds to shatter the NCAA record of 43.61 seconds set by American Michael Norman in 2018, while also establishing a new Nigerian national record.
The performance lifted the 20-year-old to fourth on the all-time world list, behind only South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk and Americans Michael Johnson and Butch Reynolds. It was a remarkable leap from his previous personal best of 44.02 seconds, set just weeks earlier — itself a record that had ended Innocent Egbunike’s 38-year-old national mark of 44.17 seconds.
Israel Okon added further gloss to Nigeria’s showing, bouncing back from a difficult 100m — where he pulled up and finished ninth — to claim silver in the 200m in a personal best of 19.99 seconds.
AFN President Chief Tonobok Okowa was effusive in his praise, saying the Eugene results demonstrated courage, discipline and world-class ability from Nigeria’s emerging generation.
“The results from Eugene are extremely encouraging for Nigerian athletics. Our athletes have demonstrated courage, discipline, consistency and world-class ability throughout the championships. To see young Nigerians excelling at such a prestigious competition is gratifying. Their performances are proof that the future of our sport is in very capable hands,” Okowa said in a statement made available to PUNCH Sports Extra.
On Ajayi’s wind-assisted 9.72 seconds, Okowa acknowledged the record technicality but was unequivocal about what the time represented.
“A time of 9.72 seconds is extraordinary under any circumstance. Although the wind reading prevents it from being recognised as an official African record, it clearly shows the level Kanyinsola has attained. We believe it is only a matter of time before he achieves even greater milestones,” he said.
Okowa also singled out Ogazi and Okon, saying their performances further underlined the quality of Nigerian talent currently coming through the ranks.
“Samuel’s NCAA record and Israel’s podium finish are further proof of the quality of Nigerian talent currently emerging. These athletes are flying the Nigerian flag high and inspiring the next generation back home,” the AFN president added.
