NCAA: AFN celebrates Ajayi, Ogazi, Okon, others

NCAA: AFN celebrates Ajayi, Ogazi, Okon, others

President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, has congratulated sprinter Kanyinsola Ajayi and quarter miler, Samuel Ogazi, for winning both the 100m and 400m titles respectively at the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon with new records.

Ajayi, who had earlier posted an impressive 9.84secs to set a new Nigerian record won the 100m final storming to a sensational 9.72s (2.2) in the men's event. The win makes him the 3rd Nigerian in history to win the NCAA 100m title after Olapade Adenekan in 1992 and Divine Oduduru in 2019.

Samuel Ogazi on his part ran a blistering world lead and NCAA record of 43:38secs to win the men’s 400m.

The AFN President said the dominance of Nigerian athletes at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) finals was no fluke but a confirmation of Nigeria’s status as a powerhouse in track and field in global athletics.

Okowa stated that Nigeria as a nation is happy with the progression of the Collegiate athletes in the US.

“I celebrate these youngsters, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Samuel Ogazi, and Israel Okon who won silver in 200metres men in 19:99secs. If not for the wind, Ajayi’s time would have become the new African record and I am confident, he is in the best shape to make it happen soon. I say huge congratulations to all Nigerian athletes who are featuring in the NCAA finals. They remain our worthy ambassadors in Eugene at the Championships and they are not disappointing at all. We still expect more successes. This is clearly a new chapter for Nigerian athletics”, Okowa stated.