Divine Oduduru Is Now Africa’s Second Fastest Athlete Ever

Just four weeks after qualifying for the 2020 Olympics, Divine Oduduru is back making waves. This time, he beat other athletes at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships to become the second fastest African athlete ever.

(Photo: Divine Oduduru via Twitter)

Oduduru achieved the feat at Austin, Texas, where he competed in the 100 metres and 200 metres races. Facing seven other collegiate sprinters, the Nigerian finished the 100 metres in 9.86 seconds – an improvement from 9.99 seconds, which he recorded at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships.

Not only does that time stand as a personal best for Oduduru, but it also comes close to Olusoji Fasuba’s African record of 9.85 seconds, which he achieved 13 years ago in Doha. So, it’s obvious that while Fasuba still remains the fastest African ever, Oduduru now follows him as the second fastest.

According to IAAF, the 22-year-old also set a championships record at the competition by finishing the 200 metres race in 19.73 seconds – 0.14 seconds faster than the former record. These feats helped his university, Texas Tech to its first men’s team title at the championships.

Watch him blast to victory in the 100 metres race:

COLLEGIATE LEADER ✅
WORLD LEADER ✅#ncaaTF Champion ✅

9️⃣.8️⃣6️⃣ pic.twitter.com/nXDx3vWDiQ

— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) June 8, 2019