Okezie breaks 45 seconds nearly 12 months after to place second at Kip Keino Classics
Godbless, Onojuvwevwo punch NCAA Championships final ticket
Nearly 12 months after he ran inside 45 seconds (44.97) for the first time in his career at the Edmonton Athletics Invitational in Edmonton, Alberta Canada, reigning African Games 400m king, Chidi Okezie sped to a 44.98 finish to place second behind South African, Zakithi Nene who broke 44 seconds (43.74) for the first time at the Kip Keino Classicis in Nairobi, Kenya.
Okezie has now achieved another sub-45 seconds performance on a weekend University of Alabama undergraduate student, Samuel Ogazi stormed to a 44.43 lifetime best at the NCAA First Rounds in Jacksonville, Florida.
Meanwhile, Tima Godbless, who scorched to an incredible 10.91 personal best on Thursday in the preliminary round of the 100m event in Florida, has punched her ticket to her first individual event at the NCAA Finals.
Godbless ran 11.11 to place third in the third heat in the quarterfinals where 12 athletes will qualify for Eugene, Oregon.
It was only Godbless that made it to the finals as Fore Abinusawa (11.30), Elo Blessing Okpah (11.33) and Precious Nzeakor (11.42) failed to race through to the NCAA final.
In the 400m, Ella Onojuvwevwo ran inside 51 seconds (50.99) for the first time this season to win her 400m heat and punched her ticket to the NCAA finals.
Onyah Onyinye Favour is also through after running 51.94 while Esther Joseph (52.01), Osaretin Usenbor (53.01), Opeyemi Oke (53.32) and Joy Nwokike (53.71) did not go through.
