ATHENS, GEORGIA — Nigeria’s rising sprint star Samuel Ogazi has shattered the country’s 400-metre national record. The 19-year-old clocked a world-leading 44.02 seconds at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial meet in Athens, Georgia, last weekend.
The time breaks the previous Nigerian record of 44.17 seconds set by the legendary Innocent Egbunike in 1987. Nigeria had waited 39 years for someone to beat that mark. Ogazi did it in his season debut at a regular-season college meet.
Ogazi, who competes for the University of Alabama, tied Georgia’s Jonathon Simms to the hundredth of a second. Simms was awarded victory by just 0.005 seconds. However, the focus immediately shifted to Ogazi’s historic run.
Alabama track and field head coach Dan Waters praised Ogazi’s performance. “That is a significant mark both globally and nationally. It is a huge moment for Nigerian athletics and for the sport,” Waters said after the race.
Nigeria’s New Sprint King
Ogazi was born in Kaduna and took up sprinting at age 14. He moved to the University of Alabama on a scholarship and quickly rose through the ranks. He reached the final of the men’s 400 metres at the Paris 2024 Olympics, finishing seventh. He was just 18 years old at the time.
In addition, Ogazi won the 2025 NCAA Outdoor 400m title, becoming the first Nigerian to win that event in 26 years. He has also won multiple SEC championships. His development has been one of the most exciting stories in African athletics over the past two years.
With a current personal best of 44.02 seconds, Ogazi now ranks among the top ten fastest 400m runners in the world this season. He is within striking distance of the sub-44 second barrier, which has been achieved by only a handful of athletes in history.
AFCON and NCAA Championship Season
The timing of Ogazi’s record could not be better. The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships are approaching in June. Ogazi is the clear favourite to retain his national title after this performance.
Furthermore, Ogazi is expected to represent Nigeria at the World Athletics Championships later in 2026. Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials said they are in contact with the young sprinter about his international calendar.
Nigerians celebrated the record on social media through the weekend. Many fans compared Ogazi to Innocent Egbunike, who was Nigeria’s greatest 400m runner for nearly four decades. Athletics insiders say Ogazi is on track to go even further than his legendary predecessor.
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