Nigerian sprinter Samuel Ogazi delivered a sensational performance at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, breaking a 26-year-old record to win the men’s 400-meter title in grand style.
The University of Alabama athlete clocked a blistering 44.84 seconds in the final, becoming the first Nigerian to claim the NCAA 400m crown since 1999.
Ogazi was the only competitor in the final to break the 45-second barrier, demonstrating remarkable composure and speed. His nearest challenger, William Jones of the University of Southern California, finished a distant second in 45.53 seconds.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Jordan Pierre came third with 45.75 seconds, while DeSean Boyce of Texas Tech and Duke’s Joseph Taylor followed closely with times of 45.78 and 45.83 seconds, respectively.
The race marked a major milestone in Ogazi’s rising career. Already a gold medalist and finalist for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, he added his first-ever NCAA title to his achievements, having previously won silver at the 2024 NCAA outdoor championships with a personal best of 44.52 seconds.
His dominance was evident from the semi-finals, where he cruised through with a meet-leading time of 44.77 seconds—the fastest across all heats. Ogazi’s fluid stride, strategic race management, and explosive finishing speed have firmly established him as one of the brightest stars of this year’s championships.
Also featuring in the final was Texas A&M’s Auhmad Robinson, the only other Southeastern Conference (SEC) runner among the top nine, who placed seventh.
Ogazi’s record-breaking run not only earned him NCAA gold but also reaffirmed Nigeria’s growing presence on the global athletics stage.
