Ogazi shines as third University of Alabama student-athlete to win SEC Runner of the Week

File photo: Ogazi Credit: Olympic

Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi has been announced the Southeastern Conference Men’s Runner of the Week, marking the junior’s first conference weekly award of the season, the league office announced on Tuesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Ogazi becomes the third University of Alabama student-athlete to earn weekly conference recognition in as many weeks.

Ogazi won the men’s 400m title in his event-season debut at last weekend’s New Mexico Collegiate Classic, clocking a personal-best 44.85s (44.96a) to break the facility record.

The 19-year-old’s performance ranks second on this year’s world indoor list, 13th on the all-time indoor list, and second in Alabama programme history.

His mark also stands as the second-fastest 400m time recorded in the SEC this season.

The New Mexico run also saw Ogazi become the fastest African this season over 400m and the second African man to break 45 seconds indoors after fellow Nigerian Ezekiel Nathaniel.

The University of Alabama junior, who was a Paris 2024 Olympic finalist, also set a new facility record at the Albuquerque Convention Centre with the historic clocking.

Ogazi’s award follows those of Katelyn Adel, named Women’s Field Athlete of the Week on 27 January, and Doris Lemngole, the Women’s Runner of the Week on 3 February.

His achievement at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic represents a landmark moment in his indoor season and highlights his rising prominence on the global athletics stage.