African Senior Athletics Championships bronze medallist Samuel Ogazi has advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 400m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
This marks the first time in 24 years that a Nigerian male quarter-miler has reached this stage at the Olympics.
Ogazi set a new personal best of 44.50s, securing an automatic spot in the next round by finishing second in his heat, which was won by USA’s Quincy Hall in 44.28s.
To qualify for the Olympics, the University of Alabama student became the second fastest Nigerian over 400m in 37 years, breaking the school record with a time of 44.17s at the SEC Outdoor Championships in May.
His compatriot, African Games champion Chidi Okezie, will compete in the repechage event tomorrow for another chance to reach the semi-finals. Okezie narrowly missed an automatic qualifying spot in the first heat, finishing fourth with a time of 45.52s.
Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith won the race in 44.78s, with USA’s Chris Bailey second in 44.89s, and Norway’s Havard Inngvaldsen taking third in 45.46s, just ahead of Okezie.
The 30-year-old Okezie will race against others who missed out on automatic spots at the Stade de France on Monday (today). He secured his first-ever gold medal for Nigeria at the African Games in Ghana in March.
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