Six Nigerian Track Stars with More Than One NCAA Title

Nigeria has produced some of the finest athletes to ever compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), leaving a lasting imprint on American collegiate track and field. These athletes not only dominated their events, winning NCAA indoor and outdoor titles, but also paved the way for future generations of Nigerian sprinters, jumpers, hurdlers, and throwers.

Today, we bring you six athletes who have won NCAA outdoor titles on more than one occasion…

Charlton Ehizuelen
Charlton Ehizuelen was a dominant force in the long jump and triple jump, winning multiple NCAA titles in the 1970s. He became the first African to win an NCAA title in either event, securing the 1974 NCAA triple jump title and the 1975 NCAA long jump title. He also won two NCAA Indoor Championships in the long jump (1976, 1977).

Modupe Oshikoya
Modupe Oshikoya was a multi-event specialist, excelling in sprints, hurdles, and jumps. She won multiple NCAA medals, including gold in the 100m, long jump, 100m hurdles, and heptathlon at the 1982 NCAA Championships while competing for UCLA.

Olopade Adeniken
Adeniken was Nigeria’s first sprinter to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m, running 9.95s in 1994. Competing in the shirt of University of Texas in El Paso, UTEP, Adeniken made history as the first Nigerian to successfully complete a sprint double in NCAA outdoor championships history.

Divine Oduduru
Oduduru won four NCAA titles, including three outdoor championships in the 100m and 200m. His personal bests of 9.86s (100m) and 19.73s (200m) remain among the fastest times ever recorded by a Nigerian sprinter and the fastest by a Nigerian in NCAA history.

Ruth Usoro
Usoro dominated the NCAA triple jump, winning multiple titles and setting records. She won the 2021 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor triple jump titles, making her one of Nigeria’s most successful collegiate jumpers.

Blessing Okagbare
Okagbare won four NCAA titles in 2010. Indoors she won the 60m and 100m gold while outdoors she won the 100m and the long jump titles. Her versatility and dominance in collegiate athletics helped pave the way for future Nigerian athletes.