Can Ogazi and Consider break Nigeria’s 300m record in face off at Orange & Purple Invitational?

Paris 2024 Olympics 400m finalist, Samuel Ogazi and new kid on the block, Consider Ekanem will be competing in the 300m at the Orange and Purple Invitational at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Complex in Clemson, South Carolina on Saturday.

Both are officially running over the distance for the first time in their very young careers and Nigerians are already anticipating a titanic battle between an 18 year old Ogazi who ended 2024 as the break out star of the year and a Consider that has taken the NCAA by storm in his first season with his incredible speed over the 60m-set a 6.57 seconds lifetime best.

The obvious question on the lips of many Nigerians is not just about who wins but also if the duo would attempt the 33.09 Nigeria record Kunle Fasasi set at the same track in 2017.

Only seven Nigerians have broken 34 seconds in the event and the duo of Ogazi and Consider will be keen to add their names to the exclusive list which has Egbunike as the second fastest (33.34), Chidi Okezie (33.46), Sylvester Omodiale (33.72), Raphael Chimezie Egbuchilem (33.84), Wilson Ogbeide (33.90) and Ayo Agusto (33.96).

James Onwuka, 34.00 seconds, is the fastest Nigerian over the distance so far this season and third fastest in Africa behind Zimbabwean Tapiwanashe Makarawu (33.01) and Enoch Fosuhene of Ghana (33.31).