Samuel Ogazi, Khaleb McRae Earn SEC Weekly Honors
2/6/2024 2:30:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Ogazi was named the Men’s Freshman of the Week while McRae was tabbed the Men’s Runner of the Week following historic performances by both student-athletes in the 400-meter dash at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – For the second time in as many weeks, the Alabama men's track and field program received weekly recognition from the Southeastern Conference. Samuel Ogazi was named the league's Men's Freshman of the Week, while Khaleb McRae was tabbed the Men's Runner of the Week following their historic performances in the 400-meter dash at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic.
Hailing from Kaduna, Nigeria, Ogazi clocked 46.30 (converted to 46.41) in his indoor 400-meter debut at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. His U20 indoor-world-leading performance in Albuquerque, N.M., broke the Nigerian U20 indoor record (47.35) as well as the African U20 indoor record (46.32). Ogazi ranks No. 15 nationally and is also the top-ranked freshman in the 400m.
Coming from Durham, N.C., McRae secured a first-place finish in the 400-meter dash via a national-leading, world-leading and new personal-best time of 45.02 (converted to 45.13) at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. The performance was the second-fastest 400-meter dash time in Alabama indoor track and field history.
The Alabama track and field program Alabama will split up next weekend, having representation at both the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, S.C., as well as the BU Valentine Invitational in Boston, Mass. In the most recent USTFCCCA rankings, the UA men's squad is ranked seventh, with the women's side sitting at 16th.
Samuel Ogazi | SEC Men's Freshman of the Week
- First career SEC Weekly Honor
- Broke the Nigerian U20 indoor record
- Recorded the fastest time by an African U20 indoor runnerÂ
- Also posted the new world-leading time by a U20 runner for the 2024 season
- Competing in his first season as a member of the Crimson Tide after arriving from Kaduna, Nigeria, where he was the 2023 Nigeran (400m) and African U18 (200m, 400m) champion
Khaleb McRae | SEC Men's Runner of the Week
- First career SEC Weekly Honor
- Set a new personal-best time in the 400m
- Clocked the fastest time in the nation
- Also posted the new world-leading time for the 2024 season
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