Oduduru tops as sprinters dominate Nigeria’s top five track and field performances in history

Divine Oduduru holds the record for the best ever performance in history by a Nigerian man.

The Nigerian 200m record holder holds a lifetime best of 9.86 in the 100m and 19.73 in the 200m. He ran both times on his way to making history as the second Nigerian man to successfully complete the sprint double at the National Collegiate of Athletics Association, NCAA, outdoor championships.

Oduduru achieved the feat in Austin, Texas in 2019, the same venue Adeniken Olopade made history in 1992 as the first Nigerian man to win the 100m and 200m gold in Championships’ history.

Oduduru’s 19.73 run in the 200m is the best ever performance by a Nigerian man in track and field history if placed side by side other performances using the World Athletics Scoring Tables of Athletics.

This is based on exact statistical data with the scores in the tables of different events covering equivalent performances.

When set against Olusoji Fasuba’s 9.85 Nigerian 100m record he set in May 2006, Oduduru’s 19.73 is considered superior and equated to a 9.83 performance in the 100m, 43.82 in the 400m, 47.40 in the 400m hurdles, 1:42.13 in the 800m, 8.58 in the long jump, 17.92m in the triple jump, 22.37m in the Shot Put and 91.32m in Javelin throw.

Fasuba is second with his 9.85 run in the 100m while Udodi Onwuzurike’s 19.76 he ran on his way to winning the NCAA 200m title last year in Oregon is the third greatest performance by a Nigerian in history.

Oduduru’s 9.86 performance in the 100m is the fourth best while the 19.84 Francis Obikwelu ran in the semifinals of the 200m in Seville, Spain in 1999 on his way to winning the bronze medal is the fifth best performance.