After already booking his place in the 200m final, Israel Okon doubled down on his fine form by running a season’s best 6.53 seconds in his 60m heat at the SEC Indoor Championships to qualify for the final.
IsraelOkon finished narrowly behind Karabo Letebele, who was awarded the heat win by the slimmest of margins — just 0.007 seconds — after both athletes were timed at 6.53s. The photo-finish decision highlighted how tightly contested the sprint event was.
Read Also: Ella Onojuvwevwo Opens 400m Season With Heat Win at SEC Indoor Championships
With his qualification, Okon became the third Nigerian athlete to reach the 60m final at the championships, joining Kanyinsola Ajayi, who posted 6.52s, and Nicholas Fakorede, who clocked 6.58s in his heat.
The strong Nigerian presence in the final underlines the country’s growing impact in collegiate sprinting, with Okon now set for a demanding double as he eyes podium finishes in both the 60m and 200m events.
