Ogazi sets new Nigerian 400m record with standout run
Samuel Ogazi has made history by breaking Nigeria’s long-standing 400 metres record. The 19-year-old clocked a world-leading 44.02 seconds at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial in Athens, surpassing the previous record set by Innocent Egbunike in 1987. His impressive performance also set a new University of Alabama school record and ranks among the fastest times in collegiate history. Despite finishing second in the race, Ogazi’s achievement marks a significant milestone for Nigerian athletics.
Match highlights
- Samuel Ogazi broke Nigeria’s 400m record with a time of 44.02 seconds at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial in Athens.
- The previous national record of 44.17 seconds was set by Innocent Egbunike in 1987.
- Ogazi’s time is now the sixth fastest in African history and the sixth fastest in collegiate history.
- He has also reached the final of the men’s 400m at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and won NCAA national and SEC outdoor titles in 2025.
- Nigeria now holds the world-leading times in both men’s and women’s 400 metres, with Ella Onojuvwevwo leading the women’s event.
