Alabama track and field athlete Samuel Ogazi secured the 400-meter national title at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Ogazi, who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, was the only finalist to finish under 45 seconds, clocking a time of 44.84.
In the men’s discus event final, Alabama had three athletes competing. Christopher Crawford finished ninth with a throw of 59.08 meters (193-10), while Trevor Gunzell and Christopher Young placed 14th and 15th with throws of 57.52 meters (188-8) and 57.23 meters (187-9), respectively. All three earned Second Team All-America honors.
Ogazi also participated in the men’s 4×400-meter relay alongside Donald Chiyangwa, Oussama El Bouchayby, and Peter Diebold. The team posted a season-best time of 3:02.17, earning sixth place in the event.
Katelyn Adel began competition in the heptathlon with personal records in both the 100-meter hurdles (14.12) and the 200 meters (24.65). She also finished sixth in the high jump with a mark of 1.72 meters (5-7.75). Adel will continue her events on Saturday.
Other Alabama athletes are scheduled to compete on Saturday evening, including Miracle Ailes in the women’s high jump final and Doris Lemngole, last year’s national champion, in the women’s steeplechase final.
The University of Alabama men’s team concluded their appearance at nationals tied for 26th place with a total of 13 points.
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