Ogazi smashes collegiate record

...Retains NCAA 400m crown in historic fashion

...Words can't express how I feel right now – Ogazi

By Maxwell Kumoye

Nigeria's sprint sensation Samuel Ogazi delivered a performance for the ages on Friday night, shattering the collegiate record in the men's 400 metres to successfully defend his NCAA outdoor title at the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field.

Representing University of Alabama, Ogazi stormed to victory in a breathtaking 43.38 seconds, eclipsing the previous collegiate record of 43.61 seconds set by Michael Norman of USC in 2018.

The stunning run further cemented Ogazi's status as one of the brightest stars in global sprinting and added another prestigious title to an already remarkable collection that includes last year's NCAA outdoor championship and the NCAA indoor crown he captured in March.

An emotional Ogazi struggled to contain his excitement after seeing the historic time flash across the Hayward Field scoreboard.

"I feel amazing," Ogazi said after the race. "Words can't express how I feel right now."

While the record came as a surprise when it appeared on the jumbotron, the Nigerian revealed he knew something special was possible after clocking an effortless 43.82 seconds at the NCAA Regionals a few weeks earlier.

According to Ogazi, his start in the final was the best he has produced all season, giving him the confidence to attack the race from the opening gun.

Still, even he did not expect the outcome to be quite so extraordinary.

"It's a dream come true," Ogazi said. "Growing up, I've always wanted to get a collegiate record."

The 20-year-old credited some of the sport's biggest names for inspiring his journey, citing Norman, Kirani James and Quincy Hall among the athletes he has admired throughout his career.

Ogazi also revealed that Hall and several other professional athletes had encouraged him to believe in his abilities and pursue his ambitions without limits.

Their advice paid off in spectacular fashion as the Nigerian produced one of the greatest performances in NCAA history, breaking a record many believed would stand for years while reaffirming his dominance in the one-lap event.

With another national title secured and the collegiate record now bearing his name, Ogazi's latest achievement is expected to further fuel expectations ahead of future international competitions, where the rising Nigerian star continues to establish himself as a major force in world athletics.

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