Ogazi sprints into Nigeria’s 300m all-time top 10 list

• Fakorede storms to another lifetime best

United States-based Nigeria’s 400m runner, Samuel Ogazi, sped to a 34.11 seconds finish in the 300m to place eighth overall at the Orange and Purple Invitational meeting in Clemson, South Carolina at the weekend. He was a 400m finalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

It was the first time the 18-year-old was running over the distance in a race. Ogazi’s 34.11 time is the second fastest by a Nigerian in the event so far this season after James Onwuka’s 34.00 seconds run on January 18. It is also the ninth fastest by a Nigerian in the history of the event.

Also at the same meet, sprint sensation, Adekalu Fakorede made the headlines for the second straight day after setting yet another lifetime best. Fakorede sped to a 21.16 finish to finish seventh in the final classification in the 200m event to set a new personal best, a day after he stormed to a 6.60 finish in the 60m event to set a lifetime best.

According to SportsNow.com, the time is the 17th fastest by a Nigerian in the history of the event. Like Fakorede, Victoria Aransiola also ran a lifetime best in the half lap event. Her 23.98 finish is the sixth fastest by a Nigerian so far this year.Faith Okwose could not break 24 seconds in the event as she finished 14th in 24.36.