Three Nigerian Indoor Records Under Threat In 2023

The 2023 indoor athletics season is in full swing and Nigeria’s collegiate athletes are right in the middle of it with some inspiring performances.

At least one Nigerian indoor record has been broken so far courtesy Shot Putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi. His 21.20m throw is 9cm farther than the 21.11m record held by Stephen Mozia.

So, it’s a case of one down and,..how many to go?

Well, a few of the Nigerian collegiate athletes have threatened a few of the records and Sportsnow.com.ng takes a look at three athletes threatening to rewrite the all-time performance in their respective events.

Ruth Usoro (Long Jump): Known more for her prowess in the triple jump where she claimed an NCAA gold medal and the Nigerian indoor and outdoor records, Usoro made a huge leap at the Sports Performance centre in Lubbock, Texas at the weekend.

She landed just 10cm outside the 6.97m Chioma Ajunwa jumped in 1997 in Erfut, Germany.

Usoro’s 6.87m jump is a personal best and the farthest a Nigerian has jumped since 2010 when Blessing Okagbare leapt 6.87m to win at an indoor meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Can Usoro go farther? With her bolt out of the blues performance in Texas on Friday, it is safe not to bet against her.

Favour Ofili (200m): Ofili ran 22.53 in her first individual outdoor performance at the Razorback invitational in Arkansas on Saturday.                                                                                                                                    I

t is her third best ever performance over the distance with her best the 22.46 Nigeria record she set last year.

Ofili has shown she is capable of running faster. Difficult to bet against an athlete as hugely talented as Ofili.

Rosemary Chukwuma (60m): Former African Youth and U20 100/200m champion Chukwuma has finally come of age this season after raising expectations last year.

The 22 year old has been on fire this indoor season. She lined up for her first race of the indoor season with a 7.17 personal best.

She equalled that in her first race before running 7.11 in the final to set a new lifetime best.

At the weekend she made history as the seventh Nigerian woman to go under 7.10 (7.09).

The Nigerian record of 7.02 is held by the duo of Chioma Ajunwa and Christy Opara-Thompson.

With Chukwuma’s geometrical progression so far this season, it will be unwise to bet against her.

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