The indoor track and field season has officially hit top gear. With major Championships insight, African athletes are doing more than just tuning up—they are putting the world on notice.
This week was defined by explosive speed and technical brilliance, featuring a flurry of National Records (NR), World Leads (WL), and facility records across Europe and the US collegiate circuit. From North African middle-distance breakthroughs to West African sprint dominance, here are the top performers making headlines.
The Headliners: World-Leading Marks
1. Samuel Ogazi (Nigeria) – 400m: 44.85 (Facility Record) New Mexico Collegiate Classic — Albuquerque, NM The reigning NCAA outdoor champion made a thunderous statement in his season opener. Ogazi stormed to victory in 44.85, shattering the facility record in New Mexico. This performance is significant: it ranks No. 2 on the 2026 World List, sits at No. 13 all-time globally, and moves him to No. 2 in African indoor history. He looks undeniably sharp for a global podium push.
2. Chengetayi Mapaya (Zimbabwe) – Triple Jump: 16.85m (WL) Oklahoma Classic Invitational — Norman, OK “The Du” is back in flying form. Competing unattached, the Zimbabwean star uncorked a massive 16.85m leap to seize the World Lead (WL) for the 2026 indoor season. It’s a dominant mark that reasserts Mapaya as one of the premier threats in the global horizontal jumps heading into championship season.
3. Mercy Oketch (Kenya) – 400m: 51.53 (NR) Meeting Metz Moselle Athlélor — Metz, France While Kenya is renowned for distance dominance, Oketch is successfully rewriting the script for sprints. She obliterated the Kenyan indoor national record with a stunning 51.53. This time ranks her 13th in the world this season and signals her arrival as a serious contender in the two-lap sprint.
North African Surge: Algerian Records Tumble
4. Mohamed Ali Gouaned (Algeria) – 800m: 1:44.67 (NR) Gouaned looked imperious in France, powering to a new Algerian National Record of 1:44.67. It is a world-class mark that cements his status as one of the most exciting young 800m talents to watch on the road to Toruń.
5. Mouatez Abderrazek Sikiou (Algeria) – 400m: 45.53 (NR) Algerian sprinting depth was on full display as Sikiou lowered his own national best to 45.53. His consistent improvement suggests he could be a dark horse finalist at the World Indoors.
6. Younes Ayachi (Algeria) – High Jump: 2.28m (U20 NR) A star for the future has arrived. Teenager Younes Ayachi cleared a soaring 2.28m, setting a new U20 National Record and showing that Algeria’s technical field events are in good hands.
West & Central Africa: Speed & Power
7. Sally Sarr (Senegal) – Triple Jump: 14.55m Sarr produced a clutch performance with a leap of 14.55m, skyrocketing her to No. 3 on the 2026 World List. This is a massive boost for Senegalese athletics and puts her firmly in medal contention.
8. Joshua Caleb (Nigeria) – 200m: 20.71 The Nigerian speedster continued his fine form on the US collegiate circuit, clocking a swift 20.71. His consistency over the half-lap indoors is a promising sign for his speed endurance heading into the outdoor season.
9. Charles Godfred (Nigeria) – Long Jump & Sprints Gopher Classic — Minneapolis, MN Godfred displayed incredible versatility this week. He won the Long Jump with a leap of 7.93m and simultaneously showed off his runway speed by blazing a Personal Best of 6.61s in the 60m dash.
10. Emmanuel Esemi (Cameroon) – 60m: 6.53 Cameroon’s sprint king looked sharp, stopping the clock at 6.53—a top-tier mark that keeps him in the conversation among Africa’s fastest starters.
11. Kelly Ufodiama (Nigeria) – 200m: 22.90 Competing for East Carolina University, Ufodiama posted a solid 22.90, adding to the growing depth of Nigerian women’s sprinting in the NCAA.
12. Success Umukoro (Nigeria) – 60m: 7.16 Umukoro was quick out of the blocks, clocking 7.16 in the 60m dash, further proving that Nigerian female sprinting is deep and competitive.
The Bottom Line: The narrative of African athletics is evolving. While the continent remains a distance powerhouse, this week proved that Africa is a force in technical events—from the triple jump in Zimbabwe and Senegal to the high jump in Algeria and the explosive sprints of Nigeria.
Question of the Week: With Samuel Ogazi dropping a 44.85 this early, do you see him breaking the African Indoor Record (44.74) before the World Championships in March?
