Ruth Usoro has emerged winner in the women’s Triple Jump event at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Championship with a 14.27 meters leap.
Six (6) Nigerian athletes were in action at their respective NCAA Championships; five of those being at the Division I Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas while one competed at the Division II Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.
After her Long Jump competition the day before where she managed 6.62 meters for 5th place, Ruth Usoro was again sitting in 5th after her 4th attempt, while Deborah Acquah led also with 14.27 meters, a Ghanaian National Record (NR).
Ruth Usoro who has been a second-half climber all season, broke out to 14.21 meters in her 5th try and then improved to equal Acquah’s leading mark in her last attempt, securing the title by virtue of a better series. Ruta Lasmane finished 3rd with 14.15 meters (Personal Best – PB).
Despite not competing so much this indoor season, Raymond Ekevwo with a burst of brilliance, finished 2nd in the men’s 60 meters final where he posted a Season’s Best (SB) of 6.54 seconds, closing out the season as the 2nd fastest athlete on the collegiate circuit.
The race was won by Oregon’s Micah Williams who raced to an equal PB and Collegiate Lead of 6.49 seconds, while Rikkoi Brathwaite was 3rd in 6.56 seconds.
In the first heat of the women’s 200 meters final, Favour Ofili (LSU) clocked a time of 22.96 seconds to finish 4th, her 2nd fastest time ever, both indoor and outdoor.
The heat was won by Kynnedy Flannel in 22.64 seconds, followed by Twanisha Terry in 22.75 seconds, just ahead of Anavia Battle who returned 22.76 seconds and while the 2nd heat was won by Abby Steiner in an equal Collegiate Record of 22.38 seconds, Ofili who was the only freshman in the final, placed 6th overall.
The men’s High Jump saw Erhire Best compete in his first ever nationals, managing a best height of 2.13 meters and closing out competition in 12th place after taking three tries at an equal Personal Best (PB) of 2.18 meters, a height he had cleared just a week before to qualify for the Championships.
With a best throw of 19.17 meters after three rounds, Isaac Odugbesan also finished the men’s Shot Put in 11th place.
Two weeks ago, he threw a new total Personal Best (PB) of 20.50 meters to win the event at the SEC Indoor Championships, breaking his school, University of Alabama’s School Record set by Hréinn Halldórsson that had stood since 1980.
