Ufodiama, Umukoro Drawn Together; Ajayi, Okon Separated in 60m as NCAA Indoor Championships Flag Off Friday

Kelly Ufodiama and Success Umukoro have been drawn in the same semifinal heat and will battle six others for the two automatic tickets to the final when the 2026 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships begins Friday in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The two Nigerians can also benefit from the four slots available to athletes with the best times across the two semifinal heats. Ufodiama is also competing in the 200m, where only time will determine her fate.

In the men’s category, the two bona fide Nigerians in the lineup, pre-race favourite Kanyinsola Ajayi (6.45) and his Auburn University schoolmate Israel Okon, have been drawn in separate heats.

Okon will run to secure one of the two automatic slots in the first semifinal heat, while Ajayi will battle in the second against Mason Lawyer (6.49) of Arizona, who, like the Nigerian, has broken 6.50 seconds this year.

Okon’s heat features two athletes who have already gone under 6.50 seconds: Davonte Howell (6.49) and Texas Tech’s Malachi Snow (6.46).

In the 400m, the three Nigerian women have been drawn in separate heats, with the top eight across all four heats advancing to the final by time.

Esther Joseph (51.36) is in the second heat, where only Shaquena Foote of Georgia has run faster (51.27). Joseph, a University of Tennessee student, is also competing in the 200m, where she will be running for time.

Chioma Nwachukwu is in the third 400m heat, where Dejanea Oakley holds the fastest time of 51.11 this year and has a lifetime best of 50.90.

Pre-race favourite Ella Onojuvwevwo, who won the SEC title with her first-ever sub-51 seconds run (50.96), is in the fourth and final heat against Madison Whyte of USC, who boasts a 50.82 best this year and lifetime.

For the men, Samuel Ogazi, tipped to become the first Nigerian student-athlete to win the 400m title indoors and outdoors, has been drawn in the fourth and final heat with Jonathan Simms, the Georgia freshman who clocked a lifetime best of 44.62 in January.

Ogazi, who holds a 44.72 best and defeated Simms to win the SEC, will not only be competing against him but also against the clock, as only the eight fastest across the four heats will qualify for the final.

Another Nigerian, Edidiong Udo, will also be running for time.

In the women’s long jump, Prestina Ochonogor will make a bold bid to emulate Blessing Okagbare as the second Nigerian woman to win an NCAA indoor long jump title.

In the women’s shot put, Jessica Oji, a new Nigerian entrant, will be aiming for her first 19m throw to stand a chance of becoming the first Nigerian woman to win the event indoors and outdoors.

Grace Oshiokpu and Mercy Honesty are also in contention, hoping to become the second Nigerian woman after Ruth Usoro in 2021 to claim the title.

Finally, Temitope Adeshina will attempt to become the first Nigerian student-athlete to successfully defend an NCAA indoor title.