A strong Nigerian presence will light up the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, as 34 athletes have qualified for the finals. The four-day event begins June 10 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Headlining the squad are reigning men’s 400m champion Samuel Ogazi and Nigeria’s 100m record-holder Kanyinsola Ajayi. Both are expected to challenge for medals across multiple events.
Ajayi arrives in blistering form after recently shattering the national record in the 100m, and now he has his eyes on a first-ever NCAA outdoor title. In the 200m, top qualifier Israel Okon enters as a strong gold-medal favorite.
On the women’s side, high jumper Temitope Adeshina aims to turn her freshman bronze into a maiden outdoor crown, having firmly established herself as a genuine contender.
With Nigerians well represented in sprints, relays, jumps, and throws, Eugene is set to become another launchpad for the country’s rising college stars.
