Onwuzurike, Akintola primed for first collegiate sprint double titles
The Nigerian duo of Udodi Onwuzurike and Alaba Akintola will be the cynosure of all eyes at two Conference finals on Sunday as they bid to win their first ever sprint double titles at the Conference level.
Onwuzurike, the former World U20 200m champion cruised to victory in his 100m (10.09) and 200m (20.49) semi final heat on Saturday at the Pac-12 Outdoor Championships held at the Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, California.
The 20 year old was second in the 100m and 200m last year, but entered these championships as the top seed in both.
Akintola, the 2021 National Sports Festival 200m champion ran 10.06 and 20.16 in the 100m and 200m respectively to emerge the fastest qualifier for both events.
The 21 year old will be seeking to defend the 100m Conference USA Championships 100m title he won last year while seeking to turn silver to gold in the 200m.
Akintola ran his 10.04 lifetime best in winning the 100m title last year and the Nigerian has raised expectations of a huge performance in Sunday’s final.
Louisiana State University’s Godson Oghenebrume has opened the floodgate of success to his Nigerian colleagues in the USA with his first ever Collegiate title win on Saturday.
Oghenebrume, 19, ran a 10.04 lifetime best to defeat Auburn University’s Favour Ashe to win the SEC Championships 100m title.
