Nigeria’s Rising Star Daramola Set for SEC Long Jump Spotlight

All eyes will be on Auburn University freshman Ibukun Daramola when he steps into the long jump pit at Bryan-College Station, Texas, on Thursday as the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships get underway.

Daramola, who turns 20 next month, only joined the Auburn Tigers this academic and athletic season but has already made a big impression. On his debut, he improved his lifetime best by 16 centimeters, leaping from 7.66m to 7.82m.

Since 2023, when he first broke the 7m barrier with a 7.02m jump, Daramola has shown steady progress year after year, 7.50m in 2024, 7.66m in 2025, and now 7.82m in 2026.

His latest mark, combined with access to world-class training facilities, nutrition, and athlete support at Auburn, has raised expectations that he could soon join Nigeria’s elite long jumpers.

Some observers believe he could add as much as 18 centimeters to his personal best this week, which would make him the 16th Nigerian to reach the prestigious 8.00m milestone.

Such a feat would not only cement his place among the top nine jumpers at the SEC Championships but also rekindle Nigeria’s proud tradition in the event, a discipline where the country has produced Olympic finalists and, on the women’s side, gold, silver, and bronze medalists.

For Daramola, Thursday’s competition is more than just another meet; it’s a chance to leap into history and restore Nigeria’s pride in the long jump.