Nigeria’s 400m sensation and national record holder, Samuel Ogazi, will make his professional debut at the 2026 Ed Murphey Classic, scheduled for July 10–11 in Memphis, Tennessee.
The World Athletics Silver Continental Tour meeting will mark the 20-year-old’s first race since announcing his decision to turn professional after an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Alabama.
Ogazi will line up in a star-studded men’s 400m field featuring American teenage sensation Quincy Wilson, Jamaica’s Antonio Watson, Grenada’s Kirani James, Delano Kennedy, Jevon O’Bryant, Elija Godwin, Randolph Ross and Gabriel Moronta.
The Nigerian officially ended his NCAA career after three remarkable seasons in the United States, leaving as one of the greatest 400m runners in collegiate history.
His final season was particularly historic. Two weeks ago, Ogazi stormed to victory at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 43.38s, breaking the NCAA record and moving to fourth on the all-time world list.
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Earlier in the year, he won the NCAA Indoor 400m title in an African indoor record of 44.57s, making him the fourth-fastest indoor performer in history at the time.
He also completed a clean sweep of the 2026 SEC indoor and outdoor 400m titles and successfully defended the NCAA outdoor crown he first won in 2025, having claimed silver in 2024.
Across his collegiate career, Ogazi lowered the Nigerian 400m record four times, improving it from 44.02s to 43.95s, then 43.82s, before his stunning 43.38 seconds elevated him into genuine medal contention on the global stage.
Several other Nigerians will also compete in Memphis. National high jump champion Temitope Adeshina will feature in the women’s high jump, while Rosemary Chukwuma will contest the women’s 100m, Favour Ofili the 200m, and Ella Onojuvwevwo the women’s 400m as they continue preparations for the major championships later this season.
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