…Samuel Ogazi becomes second Nigerian to win NCAA 400m title
Samuel Ogazi stormed to victory in the men’s 400m final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, clocking 44.84s to win the title in dominant fashion on Friday night in Eugene, Oregon.
The University of Alabama sprinter finished well ahead of Gabriel Moronta (45.47s) and William Jones (45.53s).
Samuel Ogazi’s victory made him only the second Nigerian man in history to win the NCAA 400m title, 25 years after Clement Chukwu last did it in 1999. He is also the first Alabama athlete to win the event since Olympic champion Kirani James.
Samuel Ogazi had signalled his intent as favourites in the semifinals, which he won with a time of 44.77s — the fastest of the round — and backed it up with another strong performance to claim his first national collegiate title.
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Ogazi returned to the track as a member for UA’s 4×400-meter relay contingent, as the group clocked a season-best, sixth-place finish of 3:02.17.
The 19-year-old had previously reached the men’s 400m final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and now adds an NCAA crown to his growing resume.
In the men’s Discus Throw, fellow Nigerian Vincent Ugwoke finished fourth with a Personal Best of 63.73m.
Competing for Alabama, Ugwoke moved into third place in the fifth round before being edged out by Uladzislau Puchko, who threw 63.94m.
Jamaica’s Ralford Mullings won the event with a Personal Best of 69.31m.
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