Adeshina, Ajayi, Ogazi Top List as 14 Nigerians Set for NCAA Indoor Track and Field Showdown in Arkansas

Reigning NCAA indoor high jump champion, Temitope Adeshina, NCAA 60m indoor leader, Kanyinsola Ajayi, and new African and University of Alabama 400m indoor record holder, Samuel Ogazi, are among 14 Nigerian student-athletes listed by the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country Oversight Committee to compete at the 2026 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.

The championships will be hosted by the University of Arkansas at the Randal Tyson Center in Fayetteville on March 13 and 14.

Adeshina, who made history as the first Nigerian woman to win an NCAA indoor title since Ruth Usoro claimed the triple jump crown in 2021, is aiming to defend her high jump title.

The Texas Tech University undergraduate enters the competition as the NCAA leader with a clearance of 1.97m, but will face familiar rival Rose Yeboah of Ghana, who has jumped 1.94m this season.

Yeboah holds a 6-5 head to head record against Adeshina.

Interestingly, the Nigerian prevailed when both met at the Razorback Invitational in January at the Randal Tyson Indoor Center, Fayetteville in Arkansas, the same arena that is hosting the Championships this month.

It was there Adeshina soared to her 1.97m lifetime best to win while Yeboah cleared her 1.94m season’s best to place second.

In the sprints, Kelly Ufodiama and Success Umukoro are seeking to become the second Nigerians after Blessing Okagbare to win the 60m crown.

Both are also entered in the 200m, where they face stiff competition from Adaejah Hodge of Georgia, the NCAA leader with 22.32. Esther Joseph is also listed in the 200m and 400m, while Chioma Nwachukwu will compete in the 400m alongside Ella Onojuvwevwo, who became the first African woman to break 51 seconds indoors with 50.96.

Onojuvwevwo will battle Madison Whyte of USC, who has clocked 50.93 this season.

Prestina Ochonogor is targeting the women’s long jump crown, hoping to become the second Nigerian after Okagbare to win the event.

Her season-best leap of 6.69m places her behind NCAA leader Sophia Beckmon of Illinois, who has jumped 6.85m.

Grace Oshiokpu is entered in the triple jump with a mark of 13.44m, while freshman Jessica Oji, who set a new African record of 18.50m in the shot put, is a strong contender for gold.

On the men’s side, Ajayi is the standout after storming to a new African record of 6.45 seconds to win the SEC title.

He is aiming to become the first Nigerian man to win the 60m crown and will be joined by Auburn teammate Israel Okon.

Ajayi’s main challengers include Malachi Snow of Texas Tech (6.48), Traunard Folson of Tennessee (6.49), and Davonte Howell of Tennessee (6.49).

In the 400m, Ogazi is favoured after defeating NCAA leader Jonathan Simms in the SEC final, while Edidiong Udo of Ohio State will also represent Nigeria. Simms who has done 44.62 this year remains Ogazi’s biggest obstacle in Arkansas.

Emmanuel Njoku will compete in the men’s long jump with a season-best of 7.93m, though he faces a tough field with half (eight) of the athletes competing already surpassing the 8m mark.