Israel Okon ran an impressive semifinal heat, dashing to a fiery 6.51 to decimate the entire field at the SEC Indoor Championships.
The Auburn University’s star time of 6.51s at the SEC Indoor Championships is a 60m World Junior Record.
With 6.51, Okon equaled the world junior record first set by Britain’s Mark Lewis-Francis in 2001.
Israel Okon (Auburn) 🇳🇬 60m World Junior Record of 6.51s at the SEC Indoor Championships!
Equals the mark first set by Mark Lewis-Francis 🇬🇧 in 2001. pic.twitter.com/aZXGhRJlgW
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) March 1, 2025
Okon’s time currently ties Ajayi’s School Record, Nigerian, African, and NCAA Lead.
It also puts him 4th in the Nigerian all-time list, tied with Davidson Ezinwa and Favour Ashe.
Okon Equals World Junior Record and Others
- Personal Best
- Equals World Junior Record
- Facility Record
- African Lead
- Nigerian Lead
- NCAA Lead
- School Record
Earlier, the Nigerian sprinter was close to equaling the record when he ran a rapid new personal best and African U20 record of 6.52s to win his 60m semifinal at Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson.
He was just 0.01s away from breaking Mark Lewis-Francis’ World U-20 Record in February.
Consequently, Israel Okon now extends his lead as the fastest Nigerian 60m runner this year.
Caleb Joshua remains second with 6.57 seconds, recorded at the Nevada Silver and Blue Invite in early January.
Furthermore, Kayinsola Ajayi and Fakorede Adekalu also won their respective heats in 6.57s and 6.63s to qualify for the men’s 60m final.
