19-year-old 400m sensation storms to fastest time by a Nigerian since 2001 to qualify for Paris Olympics

Ella Onojuvwevwo

19-year-old 400m sensation storms to fastest time by a Nigerian since 2001 to qualify for Paris Olympics

Funmilayo Fameso 20:36 - 11.05.2024

Nigeria's teen sensation Ella Onojuvwevwo clocked Nigeria's fastest time since 2015 to punch her ticket to the Paris Olympic Games.

Teenage sensation Ella Onojuvwevwo has become the latest Nigerian athlete to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games after storming to a massive 400m Personal Best (PB) of 50.57s at the South Eastern Conference (SEC) Championships.

The Louisiana State University (LSU) sophomore finished second in her heat, which was good enough to make the final and become Nigeria's fastest in the event since the legendary Falilat Ogunkoya clocked 50.50s in 2001.

In addition and most importantly, Onojuvwevwo surpassed the Olympic qualifying standard of 50.95s, obliterated LSU's 27-year-old record, a new Nigerian U20 Record, No.5 all-time in Nigerian history, and No.17 all-time in African history.

Ella Onojuvwevwo clocked record-breaking time to qualify for the Olympics

The 19-year-old's performance was fresh from being part of the Nigerian mixed 4x400m relay team that punched their Paris ticket at the World Relays and makes her only the second athlete to break the 51.00s mark since Patience George clocked 50.75s in 2015. 

Onojuvwevwo will be back to compete in the final at the SEC Championships, where she'll be gunning to lower her time and perhaps break the sub-50s mark.

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