Nigerian speedsters make Olympic and 100m statements ahead of World Relays

Udodi Onwuzurike has punched his ticket to the Paris Olympic Games after surpassing the 200m qualifying time, while Favour Ashe showed his supremacy again by equalling his 100m Personal Best (PB).

In his first race of the season as a professional athlete for Adidas, Onwuzurike clocked a brilliant 20.13s for victory at the Pure Athletics Invitational, which was fast enough to surpass the Olympic automatic qualifying standard of 20.16s.

With his qualification, the 2023 NCAA champion and former Stanford University standout sprinter joined the growing list of Nigerian athletes to hit their Olympic tickets after Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Ruth Usoro, Ashe, Edose Ibadin, Ezekiel Nathaniel, and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi.

Meanwhile, Ashe proved once again that he's ready to be recognised as a force this season, as he stormed to a blistering 9.96s to win the 100m event at the Tiger Track Classic in Auburn.

His time equalled his PB set in 2023 and would have lowered his world lead but for the astonishing 9.93s run by 17-year-old American Christian Miller.

Ashe's impressive run inspired a 1-2-3-4 finish for his school University Of Auburn, as his compatriot Kanyinsola Ajayi also clocked a PB of 10.14s, with Azeem Fahmi and Dario Matau finishing in third and fourth in 10.31s and 10.33s respectively.

Onwuzurike and Ashe's performances further prove the depth of Nigeria's male sprinters, and if well-coached by the federation's officials, will be a force in the 4x100m event at the upcoming World Relays in the Bahamas.