Ogazi Eyes Sub-44 Seconds Ahead Of NCAA Track Championships

TUSCALOOSA — Nigerian sprinting sensation Samuel Ogazi is targeting the sub-44 second barrier at the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The 19-year-old University of Alabama star set a world-leading 44.02 seconds earlier this month to smash Nigeria’s 39-year-old national record.

Ogazi confirmed his ambitious target in comments to the Alabama athletics department this week. He said the sub-44 second mark is achievable and that he is training with that specific goal in mind ahead of the championships in June.

“I know I can go faster. The national record was a great step, but sub-44 is the real target. That is where I want to be. I am working every day to get there,” Ogazi told the Alabama athletics media team.

Sub-44 seconds in the 400 metres is an elite benchmark achieved by only a small number of athletes in the history of the event. It would place Ogazi among the fastest 400m runners ever produced by African athletics. His current 44.02 already ranks him in the global top 10 for the season.

A Season of Records

Ogazi’s record-breaking form is part of a remarkable week for Nigerian athletes abroad. His national record in the 400m came within days of Taofeek Ismaheel winning the Polish Ekstraklasa title with Lech Poznan and Kelechi Iheanacho helping Celtic win the Scottish Premiership.

Furthermore, Ogazi is the defending NCAA 400m champion, having won the title in 2025. Retaining that title while posting a sub-44 performance would make him one of the most talked-about young athletes in world track and field ahead of the 2026 World Athletics Championships.

Alabama coach Dan Waters described Ogazi as a once-in-a-generation talent. He said the coaching staff is managing his training load carefully to ensure he peaks at the right moment. “We want him fresh and ready for the NCAA Championships. Everything is building toward that,” Waters said.

Nigeria Watching Closely

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria is monitoring Ogazi’s progress with great interest. Federation officials said they are in regular contact with the sprinter and his management team about his international schedule.

Ogazi is expected to represent Nigeria at the World Athletics Championships later in 2026. His performance will be crucial to Nigeria’s medal prospects in the 400 metres, an event where the country has not won a major global title in many years.

Fans across Nigeria continue to celebrate the young sprinter on social media. Many are drawing comparisons to Innocent Egbunike, the legendary Nigerian 400m runner whose 39-year-old record Ogazi shattered. Athletics historians say Ogazi is on track to surpass everything Egbunike achieved at the same age.