Nigerian sprinters Kanyinsola Ajayi, Fakorede Nicholas, and Sunday Israel Okon delivered strong performances in their respective 100m heats at the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds held in Florida, securing spots in the quarterfinals scheduled for Friday.
Ajayi impressed in his heat, clocking 10.21 seconds (-0.4 m/s wind) to finish second behind Jaiden Reid, who won the race with a marginally faster 10.19s.
The performance underscores Ajayi’s growing consistency on the American collegiate circuit.
Fakorede Nicholas also secured second place in his own heat, crossing the line in 10.30s. His well-executed race keeps him firmly in contention as he progresses to the next round of competition.
Meanwhile, Sunday Israel Okon stood out by winning his heat with a time of 10.36s, showing composure and tactical awareness to lead from the start.
All three Nigerian athletes will now shift their focus to the quarterfinals on Friday, where they will aim to continue their charge toward the NCAA Championships and boost their individual rankings ahead of the summer season.
Their advancement not only highlights the depth of Nigerian sprinting talent on the U.S. collegiate scene but also adds to growing anticipation surrounding Team Nigeria’s sprint prospects ahead of upcoming international competitions.
