At the Orange and Purple Invitational in Clemson, South Carolina on Saturday, Samuel Ogazi, a Paris 2024 Olympics 400m finalist, clocked 34.11 seconds in the 300m event, securing eighth place overall.
The 18-year-old athlete was making his debut in this distance, in a race where he was expected to compete against Consider Ekanem, a standout performer of this indoor season in the NCAA. However, Ekanem did not participate.
Ogazi’s 34.11 seconds is the second-fastest by a Nigerian in this event this year, following James Onwuka’s 34.00 seconds on 18 January. It also ranks as the ninth-fastest time ever recorded by a Nigerian in this event.
At the same competition, sprinting talent Adekalu Fakorede made waves for the second consecutive day by setting another personal best.
Fakorede achieved 21.16 seconds in the 200m event, finishing seventh and establishing a new personal record. This performance came just a day after he set a lifetime best of 6.60 seconds in the 60m event.
Fakorede’s 200m time is the 17th fastest ever recorded by a Nigerian in this discipline.
