Nigerian athletics sensation Tobi Amusan is gradually
returning to peak form ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,
with the world record holder producing increasingly impressive performances as
the season progresses.
The reigning queen of the women’s 100m hurdles has
shown steady improvement across major competitions after an uneven start to the
campaign, boosting confidence among Nigerian athletics fans ahead of a packed
international schedule.
Amusan began her recent run with a relatively modest
12.83-second performance at the CAA Senior Athletics Championships, suggesting
she was still building rhythm and race sharpness.
However, the Nigerian star quickly found momentum on
the elite Diamond League circuit, where she improved significantly to 12.41
seconds at the Shanghai Diamond League.
Her progress continued in Xiamen, where she clocked an
impressive 12.28 seconds — her fastest time of the season so far — further
signaling her return to world-class form.
Reacting to her performances, Akuchukwu Chineze
Aghazu, the Second Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN),
praised Amusan’s consistency and determination.
According to Aghazu, the steady improvements confirm
that the reigning world record holder is gradually returning to her best
condition ahead of major global events.
He also expressed confidence that Amusan could
eventually break her own world record again, noting that she previously ran
wind-assisted times of 12.12 seconds and 12.06 seconds.
Aghazu credited part of the athletes’ recent success
to the prompt payment of grants by the National Sports Commission (NSC), saying
improved support systems are helping elite Nigerian athletes focus fully on
performance.
Meanwhile, another Nigerian star, Samuel Ogazi, is
rapidly establishing himself as one of the brightest young talents in global
athletics following a string of remarkable performances in the United States.
The 20-year-old quarter-miler has impressed throughout
both the indoor and outdoor seasons, consistently posting elite times against
top collegiate athletes.
Ogazi first recorded an indoor personal best of 44.85
seconds in the 400 metres before improving further at the NCAA Division I
Indoor Championships held at the Randal Tyson Indoor Center, where he clocked a
brilliant 44.57 seconds.
He also produced a facility-record performance at the
SEC Indoor Championships with another impressive run of 44.72 seconds.
However, his biggest breakthrough came during the
outdoor season at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field
Championships in Auburn on May 16, where he stormed to a sensational 43.95
seconds in the men’s 400 metres.
The performance broke a long-standing Nigerian
national record of 44.17 seconds set in 1987 by Innocent Egbunike and briefly
stood as the second fastest time in the world this year.
Aghazu described Ogazi’s rise as extraordinary,
praising his consistency, maturity, and technical development despite his young
age.
He added that both the AFN and the NSC remain
committed to supporting Nigeria’s emerging stars under the leadership of Shehu
Dikko and Bukola Olopade.
With his rapid development and record-breaking
performances, Ogazi is increasingly being viewed as one of Nigeria’s strongest
medal prospects for future international championships.
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