At the iconic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, Ezekiel Nathaniel and Kayinsola Ajayi emerged as standout performers on Day One of the four-day competition, leading a wave of Nigerian excellence that signaled the country's rising dominance in U.S. collegiate athletics.
Nathaniel Sets National Record, Earns Bowerman Recognition
Ezekiel Nathaniel, competing in the men's 400m hurdles semifinal, stunned spectators with a commanding run of 47.86 seconds, breaking his own Nigerian national record yet again. The performance also marked a new personal best and placed him at the top of the 2025 NCAA performance charts.
It was the third time this season that Nathaniel has dipped under the 48-second barrier, following previous runs of 47.90s and 47.89s. His growing consistency and technical precision over the hurdles earned him a coveted spot on the Bowerman Watch List—a distinction reserved for the top ten male athletes in U.S. collegiate track and field.
However, Nathaniel’s evening was not without setbacks. In the men’s 4x400m relay, his Baylor University team—featuring Tyler Honeyman, Abbas Ali, and Aren Spencer—failed to progress, finishing last in their heat with 3:09.63s.
Ajayi Blazes to 100m Semifinal Win With Sub-10 Second Run
Auburn University’s Kayinsola Ajayi delivered one of the meet’s most sensational performances, clocking 9.92 seconds in the men’s 100m semifinal to become the only sprinter to break the 10-second barrier across all heats.
With that time, Ajayi advanced to the final as the top seed and became the fourth-fastest Nigerian in history, trailing only legends Olusoji Fasuba (9.85s), Divine Oduduru (9.86s), and Godson Brume (9.90s). His season has been marked by consistency at the elite level, with three sub-10s recorded in just three months.
Ajayi’s sprinting prowess didn’t end there. He returned to anchor Auburn’s 4x100m relay team to a stunning 37.97s, a time that tied the NCAA Championship meet record and now ranks as the third-fastest in collegiate history. Alongside teammates Azeem Fahmi, Dario Matau, and Makanakaishe Charamba, Auburn heads into the final with title defense ambitions and their sights set on the all-time collegiate record.
Teammate and fellow Nigerian Israel Okon also impressed, finishing second in his 100m semifinal with a personal best-equalling 10.07s, ensuring a double Nigerian presence in the final.
Ogazi, Onwuka Shine in 400m and Relays
In the men’s 400m semifinal, Samuel Ogazi of the University of Alabama demonstrated his class with a smooth and dominant finish, clocking 44.77s—the fastest time of the round. His composure down the final stretch further solidified his position as a favorite for the individual title.
Ogazi also anchored Alabama’s 4x400m relay team, helping them to a qualifying time of 3:03.58s alongside teammates Donald Chiyangwa, Peter Diebold, and Oussama El Bouchayby. James Onwuka of Penn State contributed to a slightly faster effort, guiding his team to a time of 3:03.39s, also earning a lane in the final.
Despite strong efforts, Edidiong Udo and his Ohio State relay team narrowly missed out on qualification, finishing with a time of 3:04.61s. Udo’s campaign took another hit after he was disqualified in the individual 400m for a lane violation.
Godfred Just Misses Long Jump Podium
In the men’s long jump final, Charles Godfred of the University of Minnesota finished just shy of the podium, placing fourth with a leap of 7.91m. Though not medaling, the result marked an improvement on his sixth-place finish the previous season. The event was won by Malcolm Clemons of Florida, who leaped 8.04m.
As the championship continues, Nigerian athletes have not only affirmed their place among the world’s best but have also raised expectations for what could be a historic finish. With multiple finalists and national records already in hand, all eyes will be on Friday’s finals as these athletes chase glory—and possibly more records—for themselves and their country.