Ogazi Drops to 200m for 2026 Individual Outdoor Debut at Crimson Tide Invitational
Reigning NCAA indoor 400m champion Samuel Ogazi will make his individual outdoor debut on Friday at the prestigious Crimson Tide Invitational in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The 19-year-old Nigerian sprinter, however, will not be competing in his signature 400m event but instead in the 200m, where he holds a lifetime best of 20.71 seconds, achieved two years ago at the same meet.
Ogazi is returning to the half-lap event for the first time since 2024 and has been drawn in lane six of heat two, one of five heats scheduled.
He will face fellow Nigerian Emmanuel Iyanuoluwa Badejo of Mississippi State University, who is drawn in lane two of the same heat.
While Ogazi will not feature in Alabama’s main 4x400m relay team, the Crimson Tide quartet of Tarsis Orogot, David Thid, Alexander Osayemi, and Mouatez Sikiou has been listed for the event.
Nigeria’s presence at the meet extends to the women’s sprints.
Precious Nzeakor, also of the University of Alabama, will run in lane six of the first heat of the women’s 200m. This would be after competing in the 100m, where her schoolmate Faith Osamuyi has been drawn in lane six of the second heat.
Osamuyi will also line up in her specialty, the 100m hurdles, at the Tuscaloosa meet.
