Nigerian sprinter Emmanuel Ojeli had a moment to remember at the International Pegaso Meet in Florence, Italy, as he lined up alongside his track idol, Wayde Van Niekerk, in the men’s 100m dash.
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Ojeli, who is traditionally a 400m specialist, stepped down to the shorter sprint distance and held his own in a competitive field, finishing 4th with a time of 10.38 seconds — just 0.05s behind Van Niekerk, the world record holder in the 400m, who placed 3rd in 10.33s.
South Africa’s rising star Tsebo Matsoso claimed victory in the race with a time of 10.25s, while Cuba’s Arnaldo Romero (10.28s) and Cote d’Ivoire’s Arthur Cisse (10.43s) completed the top five.
Beyond the result, the race was a personal highlight for Ojeli, who described sharing the track with Van Niekerk as a surreal and inspiring experience. It marked a full-circle moment for the Nigerian athlete, who has often credited the South African legend as one of his biggest inspirations in athletics.
Ojeli’s performance further underlines his growing versatility and competitive edge on the international stage as he continues to sharpen up ahead of a busy athletics season.
