Nigerian Sprinter Olaolu Olatunde to Open 2026 Season in New Mexico Alongside Fellow Athletes

Olaolu Olatunde, a 23-year-old Nigerian sprinter and reigning African Region II 100m champion, is poised to begin his 2026 indoor season at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in the United States. Having recently transferred from Hard University to the University of Iowa, Olatunde has been making significant strides in his career.

In the 2025 season, he clinched the men's 100m title at the Nigerian Region Championship in Accra with a time of 10.60. Olatunde's personal best stands at 10.13 in the SWAC 8 Pre-Nation Championship in Abeokuta.

He will be joined by other Nigerian athletes like Ella Onojuvwevwo, Chioma Nwachukwu, Faith Osamuyi, and more at the New Mexico event. Additionally, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, a shot putter, is set to compete in Madrid after finishing third at the Millrose Games in New York.

Enekwechi will face tough competition, including American Jordan Geist and Nigerian Rajindra Campbell, who are among the top performers in the world.