Ogazi sets new track and field national record
By Uzor Odigbo
Nigeria’s fast raising quarter miler Samuel Ogazi Saturday smashed his way to setting a joint world leading time and new national record (43.95) at the SEC track and field championships in Auburn, Alabama, USA.
Ogazi turned up with a sensational 43.95 seconds run to become the first Nigerian ever to run that fast in the men’s 400m. US runner Jonathan Simms is the other athlete who posted 43.02 this season.
Two weeks ago Ogazi laid to rest Innocent Egbunike’s 44.17 national record of 39 years with a 44.02secs run. And on Saturday the Kaduna born Ogazi demonstrated that he is ready to take on the world with 43.95 seconds.
Ogazi, 20, a student of the University of Alabama started with 44.57secs in March and has progressively improved into the exclusive club of sub 44secs runners.
Barring unforeseen circumstances he would have the chance to contest at the Commonwealth Games starting July where he will be tested by some of the top runners like Christopher Morales William of Canada 44.30, Pilay Lythe of South Africa 44.32 and Lestile Tebogo of Botswana 44.37 season’s bests who are likely to compete in Scotland.
