Ajayi, Ogazi, Amusan, Nathaniel Lead Nigeria’s Charge in Outdoor Track Season

The outdoor track and field season has arrived, and Nigerian athletics fans are brimming with anticipation after a string of record-breaking performances by the nation’s elite athletes, particularly at the collegiate level in the United States.

From sprints to jumps, Nigeria’s stars are rewriting history and setting the stage for what promises to be a landmark year.

Among the headline acts is Kanyinsola Ajayi, who stormed to a 6.45s finish in the 60m earlier this year, setting a new Nigerian record and tying the African mark.

His feat also made him the first Nigerian male student-athlete to win the NCAA 60m indoor title. Ajayi, who ran 9.88s at last year’s World Championships, is now being tipped to break Olusoji Fasuba’s long-standing national record of 9.85s set in Doha in 2006.

At just 21, Ajayi’s trajectory suggests he may finally serve notice that Fasuba’s record is under serious threat.

Another rising force is Israel Okon, who dipped under 6.50s indoors with a 6.48s run. Analysts believe he could follow Ajayi’s path by legally breaking the 10-second barrier outdoors, joining Nigeria’s elite sub-10 club. His progress is one of the most anticipated storylines of 2026.

In the 400m, Samuel Ogazi has emerged as a generational talent. The 19-year-old University of Alabama star broke 45 seconds three times indoors, setting a new African indoor record of 44.57s.

He also became the first Nigerian student-athlete to win both the indoor and outdoor NCAA 400m titles. Already an Olympic finalist, Ogazi is seen as the heir apparent to Innocent Egbunike’s Nigerian record of 44.17s set in 1987.

With a 44.41s outdoor best, he is already the second fastest Nigerian ever over the distance, and many believe he is a ‘cast-iron certainty’ to break the record this season.

The hurdles are also in sharp focus thanks to Nathaniel Ezekiel, who last year became the first Nigerian to break 48 seconds in the 400m hurdles. His 47.11s run at the World Championships left him agonizingly close to the African record of 47.10s. Fans are eager to see if 2026 will finally be the year he claims continental supremacy.

On the women’s side, Temitope Adeshina continues to dominate the NCAA high jump scene. The 27-year-old defended her title with a clearance of 1.97m, tying her Nigerian record. Though she fell short in her attempt to clear the elusive 2.00m mark, Adeshina remains Nigeria’s best hope in the event.

She is chasing history as she aims to become the first Nigerian high jumper to clear 2m and join Ruth Usoro and Blessing Okagbare as the only Nigerian student-athletes to win both indoor and outdoor NCAA field event titles in the same discipline.

Nigeria’s global superstar Tobi Amusan remains firmly in the spotlight. The former World 100m Hurdles champion, now 29, is bidding to become the first Nigerian track and field athlete to win three consecutive Commonwealth Games individual titles.

She already made history four years ago as the first to successfully defend a track and field crown at the Games. Amusan is also determined to reclaim the Diamond League title, which she won three times in a row before losing in 2024 and 2025.

The sprinting future looks bright with Miracle Ezechukwu, just 17, who stunned fans at the MTN Champs in Jos with times of 11.26s in the 100m and 22.91s in the 200m. Her raw speed and youth have made her Nigeria’s next sprint sensation.

Similarly, Ella Onojuvwevwo has already made history with a 50.28s run in March, the fastest time in the world this year and an African indoor record. At 21, she became only the second African woman to break 51 seconds indoors, and expectations are high that she will join the exclusive club of Nigerian women to break 50 seconds outdoors.

In the long jump, Prestina Oluchi Ochonogor, just 19, has leapt 6.69m this year and owns a personal best of 6.79m. She is stepping into the legacy of Chioma Ajunwa, Blessing Okagbare, and Ese Brume.

Speaking of Brume, Nigeria’s multiple global medalist faces a crucial season after failing to make the finals of her event at the World Championships in Tokyo last year, her first miss since 2019.

Nigerians are watching closely to see if she can bounce back and reaffirm her place among the world’s elite.

The sprints also feature Tima Godbless, who clocked 10.91s last year to become just the eighth Nigerian woman to run under 11 seconds. At 21, she is seen as the natural successor to Favour Ofili, who has signaled her intention to switch allegiance to Turkey.

Godbless is expected to carry Nigeria’s sprint hopes into the future. Alongside her, Rosemary Chukwuma remains a puzzle. She ran 10.88s in May 2024, sparking hopes of a strong Olympic showing, but faltered in the semifinals in Paris.

Now 24, she is expected to spearhead Nigeria’s medal challenge in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with fans wondering if she can finally deliver on her immense promise.