2024 SEC Outdoor Championships: It’s going to be the Oghenebrume vs Ashe show once again!
Onujuvwevwo looking to go under 51 seconds in the 400m
The 2024 SEC Outdoor Championships began Thursday in Florida and the Nigerian duo of Godson Oghenebrume and Favour Ashe will be the cynosure of all eyes.
The two Nigerians finished 1 and 2 in the 100m final last year and a repeat scenario looks highly possible this time too.
While Oghenebrume will be seeking to successfully defend the 100m title he won last year at the expense of his friend and compatriot, Ashe, on his part will be looking to reclaim the title he won in 2022.
Last year, Oghenebrume stormed to 10.04 finish to win ahead of Ashe who ran 10.08 to place second.
Ashe looks to be the athlete in form coming to the Championships after breaking 10 seconds twice (9.96 and 9.99) this season while Oghenebrume holds a 10.16 personal season’s best.
Interestingly, both are tied 5-5 in their head to head clashes with Oghenebrume winning their last two encounters at the SEC Outdoor Championships and NCAA Finals.
Another Nigerian, Kanyinsola Ajayi will also be in action and will be aiming for a miracle to will enable him upset the applecart.
The 19 year old will be making his SEC Outdoor Championships debut and will, like Ashe, hopes to win in his very first attempt.
He holds a 10.21 lifetime best he set this year and has done a wind-aided 10.06, also this year.
In the women’s 400m, Ella Onojuvwevwo will be hoping the big ocassion can inspire to become the eighth Nigerian to break 51 seconds in the event.
The 19 year old showed flashes of her preparedness last month when she improved her lifetime best to 51.32 at the James G. Pressly Stadium in Gainesville in Florida, the same arena she is returning to for a historic run.
Also set to compete in the full lap race is Auburn University’s Oke Opeyemi, the reigning African U20 champion who will be aiming to break 52 seconds in the event.
Both Nigerians know they must either pick the lone automatic ticket on offer in their opening round heat or be among the top five fastest losers to qualify for the final.
