Temitope Adeshina soars into Nigerian and NCAA history books as she qualifies for Paris Olympic Games

Temitope Adeshina

Temitope Adeshina soars into Nigerian and NCAA history books as she qualifies for Paris Olympic Games

Funmilayo Fameso 13:27 - 09.06.2024

A brilliant performance from Temitope Adeshina at the NCAA Championships saw her make history and punch her Paris Olympic ticket.

Texas Tech University freshman Temitope Adeshina is the latest Nigerian athlete to automatically qualify for the Paris Olympic Games, after producing a brilliant performance at the NCAA Championships.

In an epic high jump final, Adeshina soared over the height of 1.97m to set a new personal best and place third behind reigning African Games champion Rose Yeboah and Elena Kulichenko, who both also cleared the same height.

Temitope Adeshina placed third in the high jump final at the NCAA Championships

However, Yeboah won on countback after clearing 1.94m on her first attempt, while Adeshina needed three trials to clear 1.91m, 1.94m, and 1.97m.

By doing this, the 25-year-old became the first Nigerian woman to make it to the podium in the event at the NCAA Championships, and she broke Doreen Amata's long-standing national record of 1.95m set in 2011.

In addition, she hit the Paris Olympic qualifying standard of 1.97m, and her Olympic qualification means she will be the second Nigerian woman after Amata to compete in the high jump event at the Games.

Adeshina's progress this season has been tremendous, having cleared a PB of 1.96m in the indoor season, which also broke Amata's record of 1.93m.

Temitope Adeshina during one of her jumps

She is now the indoor and outdoor National record holder and will be hoping to produce another historic performance in Paris, where perhaps she can become the first Nigerian woman to clear the 2.00m mark.

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