Nigerian Quartet Tipped for Glory at NCAA Outdoor Championships
NCAA analyst Stan Becton has predicted a historic showing for Nigerian student-athletes at the upcoming NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, tipping as many as four to emerge champions in their respective events.
In his pre-Championships forecast published on the NCAA website, Becton identified Kanyinsola Ajayi (Auburn, 100m), Samuel Ogazi (Alabama, 400m), Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi (Texas A&M, javelin), and Temitope Adeshina (Texas Tech, high jump) as likely winners in Eugene.
In the 100m, Auburn’s Ajayi is favoured. The 21-year-old has not run slower than 10.00 this season and recently clocked a wind-legal 9.84.
He is predicted to make history as the first Nigerian to win both the indoor 60m and outdoor 100m and remains the only Nigerian to have won the indoor 60m.
In the 400m, Alabama’s Ogazi is tipped to win after a pair of sub-44 performances.
Ogazi has already made history as the first Nigerian to win indoor 400m gold, the first to win both indoor and outdoor gold, and now is predicted to become the first to successfully defend an outdoor crown.
In the javelin, Texas A&M’s Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi is the overwhelming favorite. Nnamdi has six throws over 80m this season, compared to just three across the rest of the NCAA. After winning bronze in 2024, the Nigerian is tipped to claim gold in Eugene.
In the high jump, Texas Tech’s Adeshina is predicted to win. Adeshina has cleared 1.95m outdoors this season, making her the standout.
She is tipped to become the third Nigerian woman to win a field event title indoors and outdoors in the same season, after Okagbare and Ruth Usoro.
Becton does not rate the other Nigerians to strike god in Eugene
In the 400m, Georgia’s Dejanea Oakley is predicted to win. The Nigerian trio of Favour Onyah, Esther Joseph, and Chioma Nwachukwu are not expected to make history as the first Nigerian women to win in NCAA history.
Oakley, USC’s Madison Whyte, and Arkansas’ Kaylyn Brown and Sanaria Butler have all run sub-50 this season, with Oakley favored after clocking sub-49.
In the 100m, Florida State’s Shenese Walker is tipped to prevail, leaving Blessing Okagbare as the only Nigerian woman to have won at this stage.
Tima Godbless is not ranked for the title. Walker ran 10.80 this season, finishing second behind Adaejah Hodge (10.77), but is expected to win their rematch thanks to fresher legs.
In the shot put, Nebraska’s Axelina Johansson is the clear favorite. Nigerian and African record holder Jessica Oji is not favored to win.
Johansson owns the No. 2 throw in collegiate history, an outdoor NCAA title from 2023, and this year’s indoor crown.
