The first month of the year as concluded and the Nigerian athletes have been hard at work with many athletes opening their season on the indoor circuit. This month proved that Nigeria's hopes for a strong season are alive and well with a World Championship qualifier and even a new National Record. Sprinting superstars have shown flashes of brilliance running personal bests (PB), some of the country's best throwers launched strong performances, and jumpers leaped into the new year with explosive performances.
Middle Distance
Edose Ibadin stormed to a new National Record of 2:20:03 seconds in the Indoor 1000m race at the Alachua County Invitational in Gainesville, Florida. The 2019 World Championship qualifier in the 800m jumped to a lengthier race to kickstart his season and showed his versatility. He now holds two Nigerian records having set the 800m outdoor record in 2019.
Sprints
Rosemary Chukwuma of Texas Tech University has had an astonishing start to her 2023 campaign. On January 13th she ran 7.11 seconds in the 60m dash followed by a time of 7.13 seconds to win the Corky Classic in Lubbock, Texas. The following week, she made history running a PB of 22.99 seconds in the 200m dash. She became the third African woman to ever run under 23 seconds in the indoor 200m dash. As an encore the next week, she lowered her 60m PB once again floating to a 7.09 second finish. Her 60m time is 2nd and her 200m time is 5th in the NCAA Division 1 this year.
Favour Ofili made her 2023 individual debut for Louisiana State University (LSU) on January 27th running the 200m dash at the Razorback Invitational. She did not disappoint, running 22.53 seconds in a win. This time places her in the Top 2 fastest female 200m sprinters in the NCAA and the World currently.
Ezinne Abba started her season at the University of Texas with PBs of 7.28 seconds in the 60m and 23.30 seconds in the 200m. She has ran five individual races so far between the 60m and 200m. Her 200m time is 15th in the NCAA Division 1 so far.
Ella Onojuvwevwo made her debut for LSU running her first ever indoor versions of the 200m and 400m races. Her best indoor 200m time is 24.11 seconds and her best indoor 400m time is 53.57 seconds. Her 400m time is 22nd in the NCAA Division 1 so far.
Imaobong Nse Uko of Baylor University ran PBs of 23.64 seconds in 200m dash and 53.64 seconds in the 400m dash. Her 200m time is 43rd and her 400m time is 23rd in the NCAA Division 1 so far.
Success Umukoro of South Plains College ran a good string of races on January 13th running 7.47, 7.37 (PB), and 7.44 seconds in the 60m dash. She is currently the #1 fastest 60m sprinter in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). She also ran the indoor 200m in 24.18 seconds on January 28th. This is the 2nd fastest time in the NJCAA.
Mercy Ntia-Obong of Clemson University, Mercy Umoibang of Texas Tech, and Maria Umoibang of South Plains College debuted in the 60m dash running 7.65 seconds, 7.68 seconds, and 7.88 seconds respectively.
Joy Abu has been excelling in the NAIA ranks for William Carey University standing 5th in the 60m (7.57s), 1st in the 200m (24.35s), and 2nd in the 60mH (8.41s). Praise Idamadudu is also a top sprinter in the NAIA for Cumberland University standing 3rd in the 60m (7.52), 16th in the 200m (25.15s), and 3rd in the 400m (56.95s).
Nigeria's collegiate hurdlers have also had strong starts. Adaobi Tabugbo of Brigham Young University ran a PB of 8.30 seconds on January 20th. This mark is the 49th fastest in the NCAA Division 1 this season. Miracle Thompson of Cloud Community College has also ran a PB time of 8.35 seconds in the sprint hurdlers this month. At the same meet she ran a PB in the 60m dash as well running 7.48s seconds. She is currently ranked 1st in the NJCAA in the 60m hurdles and 3rd in the 60m flat.
On the men's side, Favour Ashe of Auburn University and Alaba Akintola of Middle Tennessee State are currently in the Top 10 of the NCAA Division 1 60m Toplist. Ashe's season's best of 6.57 seconds is 5th and in his first ever indoor 200m race ran 21.34 seconds. Akintola's broke his school record with a new PB of 6.59 seconds which is ranks him 6th in the NCAA. On January 27th, Akintola's set a PB in the 200m with a time 20.63 seconds which is the 8th fastest in the NCAA.
Udodi Onwuzurike of Stanford University made his 2023 debut on the final Saturday of January running the 60m dash at the Arkansas Invitational. In the preliminary round he equaled his PB running 6.67 seconds and finished as the fastest qualifier. In the final he improved running 6.63 seconds and finishing a close 2nd. His 6.63 second PB is the 15th fastest Men's 60m dash in NCAA Division 1 this season.
Usheoritse Itserkiri of Regina University in Canada clocked in a Season's Best 6.68s in the 60m dash on January 20th. He improved on his opener of 6.70s from the previous week. Karlington Anunagba of the University of North Texas has a season's best of 6.77 seconds in the 60m dash and set a personal best of 21.54 seconds in the 200m.
Godson Brume of LSU stormed to a new PB in the 60m dash with a time of 6.74 seconds. In his four 60m races he has performed well, running 6.76 and 6.74 on January 13th followed by 6.76 on January 20th and 6.84 on January 27th. He also set a personal best in the indoor 200m dash 21.50 seconds.
Professional sprinter Raymond Ekevwo debuted at the American Track League - Iowa Classic on January 21st running 6.73 seconds in the 60m dash. The following week, he ran 6.82 and 6.80 seconds at the Razorback Invitational.
Ezekiel Nathaniel of Baylor University ran his first ever indoor 400m race on January 20th and ran 46.57 seconds. This mark is currently the 22nd fastest time in all of NCAA Division 1. The following week he ran a comparable 46.67 seconds.
Bashiru Abdullahi of the University of Texas, San Antonio has ran a consistent set of races in the 60 meter hurdles. He started his indoor season running 7.86 and 7.87 seconds on January 13th. He improved those times the following week running 7.84 and 7.82 seconds on January 21st. He has the 36th fastest time in NCAA Division in 2023. Prosper Ekporere of Liberty University made his debut in the 60 meter hurdles on January 21st running 8.28 and 8.29 seconds to win the Brant Tolsma Invitational Meet.
Jumps
In arguably the biggest athletics achievement for Nigeria this month, jumper Ruth Usoro qualified for the 2023 World Championships in the Long Jump after her season opener on January 27th at the Texas Tech Open and Multis Meet. In her post-collegiate debut, the Texas Tech alum jumped for a new personal best of 6.87 meters in the Long Jump, her farthest mark ever in the event indoor or outdoor. It is tied for the 2nd farthest Nigerian and African indoor long jump of all time and surpasses the 6.85 meter standard needed to automatically qualify for the World Championships. Thanks to this effort, Usoro is guaranteed a spot in Budapest this coming August. She will likely be looking to qualify in the Triple Jump as well as the season progresses.
Onaara Obamuwagun of Texas Tech opened her season jumping 13.16m in the Triple Jump event then increased her season best mark to 13.38m the following week. Obamuwagun is currently ranked 5th in NCAA Division 1 Triple Jump.
Esther Isa of Middle Tennesse State Univeristy opened with a 12.89m in the Triple Jump and 1.79m in the High Jump in her opening meet. The following week she leaped 12.42m in the Triple Jump, and cleared has cleared a season's best of 1.84m in the High Jump. She is currently ranked 22nd in the NCAA Division 1 Triple Jump and 9th in the High Jump.
Joseph Oreva of West Texas A&M University had a phenomenal start to the season opening with a 7.74m effort in the Long Jump. This mark is a personal best for him, a school record, and is the #1 farthest Men's Long Jump in the NCAA Division 2 ranks.
Omamuyovwi Erhire made his debut for Texas Tech on January 28th and recorded a PB in the High Jump clearing 2.23m. This mark places him 2nd in NCAA Division 1 High Jump.
Benjamin Onyekwelu of Middle Tennessee State University had a fantastic start to his season in the Long Jump on January 20th clearing 7.70m. This mark is 0.01 off from his indoor PB in the event and is the 21st farthest jump in the NCAA Division 1 this season.
Throws
Chukwuebeka Enekwechi had a massive indoor PB in the Shot Put throwing 21.20m at the American Track League - Iowa Classic. The national record holder had an incredible series breaking his previous indoor Shot Put PB of 21.09m twice in his six throws during the meet. This mark currently places him #3 in the world at this event.
Sade Olatoye made her 2023 indoor debut in the Weight Throw finishing 4th at the Vanderbilt Invitational with a throw of 22.59m. Utitofon Sam of Texas State University competed in the Weight Throw for the first time in her career. She started off throwing 16.64m in her first meet of the season, the following week she improved her personal best to 16.89m.
Off-The-Track News
It was announced that the 7th edition of the National Youth Games have been postponed due to "logistics and time constraints". The national competition originally set to take place in Asaba from February 8th - 18th is a prime opportunity to discover and evaluate young talent. The African U18/U20 Championships are scheduled for April 18-22 in Zambia and the National Youth Games would have given another chance for the young athletes to compete. Instead, the 1st AFN All Comers Meet on March 24th - 25th will serve as the first and only trails for the U18 and U20 athletes ahead of the Championships.
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