The Road to Toruń Heats Up
With the World Athletics Indoor Championships just around the corner in March, African athletes are shifting into high gear. The past week saw a flurry of elite performances across the United States collegiate and professional circuits, from the banked tracks of Fayetteville, Arkansas, to the sprint hubs of Clemson and Lubbock.
We have verified the results from the weekend’s top meets—including the Tyson Invitational and the Tiger Paw Invitational—to bring you the definitive roundup of how the continent’s best fared.
Sprints: Consistency at the Top
The men’s 60m dash highlighted the incredible depth currently present in West African sprinting, with two athletes clocking identical world-class times.
Abdul-Rasheed Saminu (Ghana) – 6.54s
Meet: Jarvis Scott Invitational (Lubbock, TX)
The Performance: Making a powerful statement in his ASICS professional debut, Rasheed secured a win in the 60m dash at Lubbock’s Jarvis Scott Invite with a time of 6.54 seconds. Incredibly, he finished just 0.01 seconds off his personal best. That stellar performance has officially punched his ticket to the World Indoor Championships in Poland. It solidifies his standing as a premier threat for Ghana as we approach the World Indoors.
Kanyinsola Ajayi (Nigeria) – 6.54s
Meet: Tiger Paw Invitational (Clemson, SC)
The Performance: The Auburn University star matched Saminu’s effort in South Carolina, powering through the rounds to record a 6.54s finish. Ajayi has been a model of consistency this season, and this performance reinforces his reliability in high-pressure rounds. The simultaneous rise of Ajayi and Saminu sets the stage for a thrilling West African sprint rivalry this year.
Middle Distance: A Barrier Broken
Sanu Jallow (Gambia) – 1:59.76 (National Record)
Meet: Tyson Invitational (Fayetteville, AR)
The Performance: In perhaps the most stunning result of the weekend, Sanu Jallow shattered the two-minute barrier in the women’s 800m. The University of Arkansas senior clocked 1:59.76, decimating her own Gambian National Record. Breaking “sub-2” indoors is a hallmark of world-class pedigree, and Jallow’s breakthrough establishes her not just as a collegiate leader, but as a genuine contender on the global stage.
Jumps: Experience Meets Youth
The long jump pit in Arkansas provided a poetic narrative for South African athletics, featuring a legend returning to form and a teenager announcing his arrival.
Luvo Manyonga (South Africa) – 8.11m
Meet: Tyson Invitational (Invitational Section)
The Performance: The 2017 World Champion is back in the mix. In a competitive invitational field, the 35-year-old Manyonga soared out to 8.11m. While he finished 6th in a loaded field, hitting the 8.11m mark after his time away from the sport is a massive statement of intent. His veteran experience will be something to watch as the outdoor season approaches.
Temoso Masikane (South Africa) – 8.11m (PB)
Meet: Tyson Invitational (Collegiate Section)
The Performance: In the collegiate section of the same meet, 19-year-old Temoso Masikane matched the veteran’s mark exactly. The University of Florida freshman leaped to a lifetime best of 8.11m to take the win, moving him to No. 5 on the Gators’ all-time indoor list. Seeing a teenager match a former world champion’s distance on the same weekend bodes incredibly well for the future of South African jumping.
Prestina Ochonogor (Nigeria) – 6.69m (PB)
The Performance: Ochonogor continues to impress for Tarleton State. She dominated her competition at the Tyson Invitational with a winning leap of 6.69m, marking a new indoor personal best.
Ruth Usoro (Nigeria) – 6.65m
The Performance: At the Jarvis Scott Invitational, the Olympic finalist Usoro secured second place with a solid 6.65m effort. It was a disciplined performance that keeps her competitive metrics high as she prepares for championship season.
Track & Field Highlights: 200m and Throws
Israel Okon (Nigeria) – 20.63s (PB)
At the Tiger Paw Invitational, Okon capitalized on the fast track to drop a massive personal best of 20.63s in the 200m. This breakthrough run elevates his status within the crowded Nigerian sprint landscape.
Cheickna Traore (Ivory Coast) – 20.63s
The Ivorian record holder opened his account with a matching 20.63s. For a runner with sub-20 outdoor credentials, this was a controlled rust-buster that signals he is building toward peak fitness.
Esther Joseph (Nigeria) – 22.94s (PB)
Joseph dipped under the 23-second barrier for the first time indoors, clocking a personal best 22.94s in the 200m. This time moves her into the top 10 all-time for African women indoors.
Annie Nabwe (Liberia) – 24.67m (National Record)
Nabwe (University of Minnesota) rewrote the history books with a massive heave of 24.67m in the weight throw. This mark set a new Liberian National Record and briefly led the entire NCAA, highlighting her dominance in the circle.
Phethisang Makhethe (South Africa) – 23.39m (National Record)
Competing for the University of Illinois, Makhethe launched the weight 23.39m to set a new South African National Record. Her performance underscores the rising strength of African women in technical throwing events.
What’s Next?
With conference championships on the horizon in late February, these athletes will look to sharpen their tools one last time before the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland (March 20-22, 2026). If this week is any indication, Africa’s delegation will be arriving in Europe with serious medal intentions.
