Ajayi, Ogazi Shine as Nigerians Dominate NCAA Championships

Nigerian sprinters Kayinsola Ajayi and Samuel Ogazi delivered outstanding performances to claim titles at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Ajayi, representing Auburn University, stormed to victory in the men’s 100m final with a blistering 9.72 seconds in a race aided by a +2.2m/s tailwind.

Although the time could not be ratified as a record due to wind assistance, it still stood out as one of the fastest performances recorded under any conditions this season.

The 21-year-old showed remarkable improvement after finishing fourth in the same event last year, becoming the first Nigerian since Divine Oduduru in 2019 to win the NCAA men’s 100m title.

He pulled away strongly in the closing stages to beat LSU’s Jaiden Reid, who finished second in 9.82 seconds, while Arkansas’ Jelani Watkins took third.

In the men’s 400m, Samuel Ogazi successfully defended his NCAA crown in dominant fashion, setting a new NCAA and national record of 43.38 seconds.

The Alabama sprinter broke the previous collegiate record of 43.61 seconds, further cementing his rise as one of the brightest young talents in athletics.

Ogazi’s performance also placed him among the top five fastest 400m runners in history, underlining his rapid development and consistency throughout the season.

His run also erased Nigeria’s long-standing national record, marking a significant milestone in his career.

Elsewhere, fellow Nigerian Israel Okon bounced back in the 200m, finishing second in 19.99 seconds after a disappointing 100m outing.