Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
NEW ORLEANS, USA — Nigerian quarter-miler Samuel Ogazi has been named one of three finalists for the 2026 Bowerman Award, collegiate track and field's highest individual honour, after a record-shattering season that has solidified his place among the sport's elite and made him only the fourth Nigerian ever to reach the final stage of the prestigious award.
The University of Alabama standout, who hails from Kaduna, Nigeria, was announced as a finalist on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), alongside New Mexico distance runner Habtom Samuel and Auburn hurdler Ja'Kobe Tharp. The trio combined for seven NCAA titles, four collegiate records, and 13 all-time top-10 performances during the 2026 indoor and outdoor seasons.
Ogazi's selection follows one of the greatest collegiate 400-metre seasons ever witnessed. The 21-year-old swept the NCAA Division I indoor and outdoor 400m titles before producing the defining performance of his collegiate career at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. There, he clocked a stunning 43.38 seconds to shatter Michael Norman's long-standing collegiate record of 43.61 seconds set in 2018. The run made him the fastest 400m runner in NCAA history and marked the fourth time he lowered the Nigerian record in 2026 alone, having previously clocked 44.02, 43.95, and 43.82 seconds. He also became the first collegian ever to produce multiple sub-44-second performances in the event.
Earlier in the indoor season, Ogazi claimed the NCAA indoor title in 44.57 seconds, equalling the recognised indoor world record and moving into a tie for third on the all-time world indoor list. His remarkable campaign has also made him the first male athlete in Alabama's storied history to reach the Bowerman final.
Ogazi now joins an elite list of Nigerian athletes who have reached the Bowerman final: Blessing Okagbare in 2010, Divine Oduduru in 2019, and Ezekiel Nathaniel, who was a finalist last year. His emergence as a finalist caps an outstanding season for Nigerian athletes across the American collegiate system. Kanyinsola Ajayi of Auburn enjoyed a sensational sprint campaign, winning both the NCAA indoor 60m and outdoor 100m titles, while Texas A&M's Chinecherem Nnamdi made history by winning the NCAA javelin title.
Ogazi will face formidable competition from Samuel, who completed an unbeaten collegiate season, winning all 13 races against NCAA opposition and claiming both the 5,000 metres and 10,000m titles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, and Tharp, who produced one of the most extraordinary hurdling seasons in the history of the sport, breaking Aries Merritt's world record in the 110m hurdles with a stunning 12.75 seconds. The winner of The Bowerman will be announced during the USTFCCCA Convention in Grapevine, Texas, on December 17, 2026. Ogazi's place among the finalists is a testament to his extraordinary season and a source of immense pride for Nigeria, as he continues to build on a legacy of excellence in collegiate track and field.
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