Nigerian athletes must break or equal national records to hit Los Angeles 2028 Olympics automatic standards

Several Nigerian athletes will need to set new national records or equal existing marks to meet the automatic qualification standards for athletics at the Games, following the publication of the qualification system by World Athletics on Tuesday.

The standards will apply during qualification windows running from November 1, 2026, to April 30, 2028, for the marathon; December 19, 2026, to June 18, 2028, for the 10,000m, combined events, race walks and relays; and June 19, 2027, to June 18, 2028, for all other events.

In the men’s long jump, the automatic standard is 8.30m, while Nigeria’s record stands at 8.27m, set by Yusuf Alli in Lagos in 1989.

The men’s triple jump standard is 17.35m, against Ajayi Agbebaku’s national record of 17.26m, set in 1983.

In the men’s 110m hurdles, the standard is 13.18 seconds, while the Nigerian record stands at 13.27 seconds, set by Antwon Hicks on July 7, 2016.

The men’s high jump standard is 2.32m, compared with Anthony Idiata’s national record of 2.27m, set in 1998.

The men’s 800m standard is 1:43.00, while Edose Ibadin holds the national record of 1:44.65, set in 2023.

In the men’s 1500m, the qualifying mark is 3:30.00, against Ado Maude’s national record of 3:42.85, set in 1991.

The men’s marathon standard is 2:05:00, while Mohamed Abbas holds the Nigerian record of 2:16:06, set in 1990.

In the women’s high jump, the standard is 1.97m, equal to Temitope Adeshina’s national record set in Eugene in 2024.

The women’s 400m hurdles standard is 54.00 seconds, while Ajoke Odumosu holds the national record of 54.40 seconds, set in 2012.

In the women’s 800m, the standard is 1:57.00, compared with Adisa Rhoda’s national record of 2:01.54, set on May 30, 2026.

Meanwhile, Nigerian athletes already hold national records better than the automatic standards in several other events.

In the men’s 100m, the standard is 9.93 seconds, while Kanyinsola Ajayi holds the national record of 9.84 seconds, set in May 2026.

The men’s 200m standard is 19.95 seconds, against Divine Oduduru’s national record of 19.73 seconds, set in 2019.

In the men’s 400m, the standard is 44.40 seconds, while Samuel Ogazi holds the national record of 43.38 seconds, set in June 2026.

The men’s 400m hurdles standard is 48.00 seconds, compared with Ezekiel Nathaniel’s national record of 47.11 seconds, set in Tokyo in 2025.

In the men’s shot put, the standard is 21.50m, while Chukwuebuka Enekwechi holds the national record of 22.10m, set in Eugene in 2025.

In the women’s 100m, the standard is 10.96 seconds, against Blessing Okagbare’s national record of 10.79 seconds, set in 2013.

The women’s 200m standard is 22.25 seconds, while Favour Ofili holds the national record of 21.96 seconds, set in 2022.

In the women’s 400m, the standard is 49.90 seconds, compared with Falilat Ogunkoya’s national record of 49.10 seconds, set in 1996.

The women’s 100m hurdles standard is 12.58 seconds, while Tobi Amusan holds the national record of 12.12 seconds, set in Eugene in 2022, which was also a world record at the time.

In the women’s long jump, the standard is 6.90m, against Ese Brume’s national record of 7.17m, set in Chula Vista in 2021.