Nigerian sprinters Kayinsola Ajayi and Samuel Ogazi produced standout performances in the early hours of Friday at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, as both athletes claimed national titles in the men’s 100m and 400m events, respectively.
Ajayi, representing Auburn University, stormed to victory in the men’s 100m final in a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds, with a tailwind of +2.2m/s rendering the time ineligible for record purposes.
Even without official record status, the performance stood out as one of the fastest ever run under any conditions, with the 21-year-old pulling clear in the closing stages after a tightly contested race.
LSU’s Jaiden Reid finished second in 9.82 seconds, while Arkansas’ Jelani Watkins placed third as Ajayi secured a dominant win in his first NCAA outdoor title.
The victory also made him the first Nigerian to win the NCAA men’s 100m crown since Divine Oduduru in 2019, marking another milestone in his rapid rise on the collegiate circuit.
In the men’s 400m, Samuel Ogazi successfully defended his NCAA title in commanding fashion, running a collegiate record of 43.38 seconds.
The Alabama athlete’s performance shattered the previous NCAA record of 43.61 seconds and further cemented his reputation as one of the most dominant one-lap runners in collegiate athletics.
Ogazi’s time places him among the fastest 400m runners in history, continuing a remarkable season in which he has consistently lowered his personal and national benchmarks.
Elsewhere, Ajayi’s Auburn teammate Israel Okon recovered strongly from a difficult 100m final to finish second in the men’s 200m with a sub-20-second run of 19.99, recording his best finish at the championships.
The performances highlight a strong Nigerian presence in Eugene, with several athletes reaching finals and podium positions across sprint events at the championship.
