Ogazi continues his return to full fitness with another relay performance

For the second straight week, Nigeria’s Paris 2024 Olympics 400m finalist, Samuel Ogazi continued with his return to competitive track and field action with another impressive performance in the 4x400m relay event for his school, University of Alabama.

The Nigerian who will be 19 next month ran Alabama the second leg for his school in the men’s 4x400m relay race at the Tom Jones Memorial at Gainesville, Florida on Saturday. The University of Alabama ran 3:03>32 to finish third behind a USA Team led by Fred Kerley (3:01.37) and University of Florida (3:01.52).

Ogazi first returned to action after almost two and half months out at the Crimson Tide Invitational in Tuscaloosa, Alabama penultimate weekend, helping his university to finish second in 3:08.94.

The reigning African U18 200m and 400m champion has not competed in any individual event this year, a year after his breakout performance which saw him break 45 seconds six times and became the first Nigerian since 1988 to run in the final of the 400m at the Olympics.

Ogazi is one of the athletes projected to have another standout season this term and break the long standing Nigerian 400m record (44.17) held by Innocent Egbunike.

The 18 year old is also expected to make history as the first Nigerian to break 44 seconds in the full lap race.