Nigerian high jumper, Temitope Adeshina, is on a mission to secure qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics following her outstanding display at the Texas Tech Corky Classic meet of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States last Friday.
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The 25-year-old athlete had a remarkable weekend, achieving three significant milestones with her 1.96m jump.
Not only did she break the Nigerian record of 1.93m (indoor) and 1.95m (outdoor) set by Doreen Amata in 2016 and 2008 respectively, but her mark also became the world lead for this year.
Furthermore, it ranks as the third-best all-time in the NCAA and the second-best mark in African indoor history.
Adeshina’s jump was just 0.01m short of the Paris Olympic Games’ automatic qualifying standard. Expressing her aspirations, she stated, “For the African Games, I’m sure of competing now, but the Olympics qualification is still there to take. The season is still long, and I have some months to achieve that, so I’m trusting God to make that happen as well.”
Reflecting on her record-breaking performance, Temitope Adeshina attributed her success to her coach, Adebayo, emphasizing the importance of self-belief. She expressed her excitement, stating, “I wasn’t expecting the results to come so soon. I always knew the results would come too, and I am proud of my achievements so far.”
Former national record holder Doreen Amata also congratulated Adeshina, expressing pride in her accomplishments and encouraging her to reach even greater heights.
Adeshina’s recent feat marks her second competition in the NCAA, where she debuted with a win by clearing the 1.83m mark the previous week. The silver medallist at the 2022 African Championships has already secured two national championships in 2022 and 2023.
As the new women’s high jump record holder at the Lagos Athletics Series with a mark of 1.94, Temitope Adeshina is setting her sights on additional major competitions this year, showcasing her determination to make a lasting impact on the global athletics stage.
