Ogazi Shatters 30-Year 400m National Record in Athens

Ogazi achieved a remarkable feat by breaking Nigeria's 30-year national record in the 400m with a time of 44.02 seconds during a meet in Athens on Saturday. This performance eclipsed the previous record of 44.17 seconds set by Innoc Egbunik in 1987, ending a long wait for a new benchmark in the event.

Ogazi's time not only marked a personal best but also elevated him to sixth place on the African all-time list. His performance further solidified his status as a prominent athlete, as he also holds the University of Alabama school record and ranks as the sixth fastest time in collegiate history.

Despite finishing second in a race by a narrow margin of just 0.005 seconds, Ogazi's breakthrough places him at the forefront of the global sprint scene. Additionally, Nigeria now holds the world lead in both men's and women's 400m events, with Ella Onojuvwevwo having set a personal best of 49.59 seconds earlier.

Ogazi is on track to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and has already won the NCAA national outdoor title in 2025.