Miracle Thompson and other Nigerian athletes were in outstanding form on the first day of the NJCAA Indoor Championships.
Miracle Thompson sped her way to the history books on Day 1 of the NJCAA Indoor Championships, becoming the fourth fastest 60m Hurdler on the all-time list.
The Cloud County student ran a brilliant 8.27s to win her preliminary heat and qualify for the final, bettering her previous best of 8.29s. While in the 60m, she clocked 7.47s, qualifying for the final.
Thompson has been in exceptional form this year, breaking her Personal Best (PB) in almost all her races in the 60m and 60m Hurdles.
She made her 2023 season's debut with a PB and School Record (SR) of 8.39s in the 60mH and 7.50s in the 60m. Then the second week, she lowered these times to 8.35s and 7.48s.
At each meeting, she has bettered these times, which will now end at the indoor championships.
The talented sprint hurdler is the favourite to win the 60mH title and will push for a medal in the 60m.
However, Thompson will have a compatriot in Ese Awusa as a challenger in the 60mH final, who clocked 7.55s in her heat.
Other results by Nigerian athletes
Success Umukoro ran a Facility Record (FR) and PB of 7.35s to win her qualifying heat and book a spot in the final. The South Plains College student also won her 200m heat in 24.17s.
Umukoro tops the list to win the sprints double titles but will have Thompson as one of her stiffest competitors for the 60m top price.
In the men's sprint events, Ayomide Oyetunde of Iowa Central CC ran an impressive time of 6.73s to finish second in his 60m heats and 21.31s in the 200m.
Star Mpama of Butler University had a decent day, racing to a PB of 57.28s to finish second in her 400m heat, and clocked the fastest time of 1:35.80 in the 600m for a spot in the final as well.