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A recap of the best performances by Nigerian athletes in the outgoing week, where Rosemary Chukwuma retained her top spot joined by Chukwuebuka Enekwechi.
Nigerian athletes continued their fantastic start to the 2023 indoor season, as more athletes joined in making their debut to the year last weekend.
While some built on the momentum they started with two weeks ago, others showed they're gradually blending in the season and improved on their performances.
Here's a breakdown of major performances by Nigerian athletes last weekend.
Chukwuma and Enekwechi with brilliant Personal Bests(PBs)
Rosemary Chukwuma has raced to the history books again, smashing her indoor Personal Best (PB) of 23.49s with a new 22.99s to win the 200m final at the Red Raider Open.
The time catapults her to No. 3 on the African all-time list, behind Favour Ofili (22.46s) and Murielle Ahoure (22.80s) - making her the third African female athlete to go sub-23s indoors. It is also the third fastest in Texas Tech University school history.
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Also, Nigerian Record (NR) holder in the Shot Put, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, began his 2023 season on a great note, with a brilliant PB of 21.20m at the American Track League.
Enekwechi had a series of good throws, with four going over the 21m mark. His series were 20.47m, 21.20m, 21.04m, 21.08m, 20.61m, and 21.18m, while his previous PB was 21.09m.
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His PB is now second on the Nigerian all-time indoor list, behind Josh Awotunde's 21.33m recorded in 2018 and ahead of Stephen Mozia's 21.18m back in 2016.
School Record for Miracle Thompson
At the Washburn University Rust Buster Classic in Kansas, Miracle Thompson sped to a new PB and School Record (SR) of 8.39s to win the 60 Hurdles final, smashing her previous SR in the process.
Her time broke the Meet Record (MR) and comfortably puts her as No. 1 in the NJCAA, making her favourite for the title at the NJCAA Indoor Championships.
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The sophomore student of Cloud County College also competed in the 60m, running 7.68s as the fifth fastest to qualify for the final, where she lowered it to 7.50s to finish third behind Isabella Hohl of Washburn in 7.44s and Aria Pearce in 7.48s.
PBs galore for other athletes
The duo of Ezinne Abba and Imaobong Uko were in brilliant forms for their various schools, University of Texas and Baylor University, at the MLK Jr. Invitational in Albuquerque.
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Abba continued from her PB-breaking form last week, shattering her 200m indoor PB from 24.13s to 23.30s at the meet.
Imaobong Uko racing at her first-ever indoor 200m race, clocked an impressive 23.57s.
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Last week, she opened her season in the 400m at the Texas Tech Corky Classic, winning the event in 53.51s.
Nigerian Record (NR) in the 400m Hurdles, Ezekiel Nathaniel made his 400m indoor debut with an impressive PB of 46.57s to win his heat at the Dr. MLK Jr. Invitational.
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Nathaniel opened his season last weekend by competing in the 600 yards, where he won the event in 1:08.75.
Meanwhile, Ella Onojuvwewo made her Louisiana State University (LSU) indoor debut competing in the 200m, where she ran a PB of 24.15s to finish second in her heat.
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It was her first time competing on an indoor track, so a great effort from the quarter-mile sensation.
Utitofon Sam improved on her Weight Throw PB of 16.64m set last week to a new distance of 16.89m, and place seventh in the event at the Red Raider Open in Texas Tech.
Goodness Iredia of Cumberland University, continued from his PB form last week in the triple jump and high jump events to win the men's long jump final, with a distance of 7.26m at the Samford University Open.
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