Nigerian Samuel Ogazi Wins First NCAA 400m Title In 26 Years

Samuel Ogazi made history by winning the men's 400m title at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, becoming the first Nigerian to clinch the title in 26 years and the first University of Alabama athlete to win the event since Kirani James. Ogazi was the only finalist to run under 45 seconds, finishing in 44.84 seconds, a performance that follows his previous silver medal at the NCAA Championships and his appearance in the 2024 Paris Olympics final. His victory also marked Alabama's first men's outdoor 400m national championship since James' wins in 2010 and 2011. Alongside Ogazi, Nigerian hurdler Ezekiel Nathaniel made headlines by winning the NCAA 400m hurdles gold and breaking the Nigerian national record with a time of 47.49 seconds, elevating him to third on Africa's all-time list. Despite setbacks in the men's 100m sprint for Nigeria, these achievements highlight the rising prominence of Nigerian athletes in NCAA track and field events. Ogazi’s win and Nathaniel’s record-setting performance underscore a promising future for Nigerian athletes on both national and international stages.