Nigeria’s track and field sensation, Joshua Caleb is breaking new grounds in the United States of America after he broke two records in a week, Sports247 reports.
The University of Alaska Anchorage sophomore Joshua Caleb was named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Men’s Div. II Athlete of the Week.
Joshua Caleb becomes the first male athlete from Alaska Anchorage University to be named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the indoor season.
The native of Okrika, Nigeria, broke both the indoor season and the record book this past weekend at the Silver & Blue Invitational in Reno, Nevada.
Caleb tore up the track in his season opener, taking down a 30-year-old African U20 record in the 60 meters and clocking a world-leading and collegiate-leading mark in the 200 meters.
His 60-meter time of 6.57 bested the 6.58 effort that Ibrahim Meité of the Ivory Coast set back on February 13, 1994.
No one came within 0.07 seconds of that mark indoors before Caleb took to the straightaway in Reno, Nevada.
Then Caleb turned one lap in 20.86, which sits atop the All-College Descending Order List by 0.07 seconds. That mark is also second on the Nigerian U20 all-time chart behind a 28-year-old best of 20.57 established by Francisco Obikwelu.
“Josh had a great first year for us, but he wasn’t satisfied with how either national meet went,” said associate head coach of the school.
“Since then he has been working his tail off to improve in any way he can, be it strength, fitness, or his technique. I think it’s safe to say it’s paying off.”
All eyes will be on Caleb this weekend as Alaska Anchorage will compete at the UW Preview.
