Can Ajayi Become the First Nigerian Man to Win NCAA 60m Indoor Gold?
Nigerian sprint star Ajayi is on the verge of making history as he prepares for the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships, aiming to become the first male Nigerian student-athlete ever to win the 60m title.
The 21-year-old, already a World Championships 100m finalist, is highly favored following his record-equalling run of 6.45 seconds to win the Southeastern Conference (SEC) crown last weekend in Texas.
That performance matched the championship record and confirmed his status as the man to beat heading into nationals.
Ajayi has been close before. He claimed silver in the 60m at last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships with a time of 6.52, after running a personal best of 6.48 in the prelims.
While compatriots like Divine Oduduru, Favour Ashe, and Godson Oghenebrume have all excelled in NCAA sprinting, none managed to capture the elusive 60m indoor crown.
Ajayi now has the chance to break that barrier and etch his name into NCAA history.
With SEC honors secured and momentum on his side, Ajayi is chasing the one medal that has eluded Nigerian sprinters in the U.S. collegiate system.
Only Blessing Okagbare has won the NCAA indoor title, and she remains the only Nigerian student-athlete, man or woman, to capture both the 60m indoor and 100m outdoor crowns.
