Nigerian teenage hurdler Jared Ejiasian has delivered a performance for the ages, breaking the world U18 record in the men’s 60m hurdles at the French Indoor Championships in Val-de-Reuil.
The 16-year-old blazed to an astonishing time of 7.43 seconds in the final, setting a new global benchmark in the age category. His run eclipsed the previous mark of 7.48 seconds set in 2019 by Sasha Zhoya, firmly placing the Nigerian youngster at the forefront of youth sprint hurdling worldwide.
Representing AC Nord Val d’Oise domestically, Ejiasian showed remarkable composure throughout the race, exploding out of the blocks and maintaining sharp technique over the barriers before surging clear in the closing strides. The record-breaking effort adds to what has already been an impressive indoor campaign for the rising star.
Though he has lived in France since infancy, Ejiasian has committed his international future to Nigeria, a decision that is already yielding historic dividends. His rapid development over the short hurdles signals exciting prospects for Nigerian athletics, particularly in an event that has recently produced global acclaim for the country.
While Ejiasian’s world record headlined the championship, the senior French indoor title went to Orfeo Chandler of Paris Université Club, who secured gold with a time of 7.67 seconds.
Ejiasian’s milestone performance not only rewrites the record books but also signals a major boost for Nigeria’s future in sprint hurdles, as the country continues to unearth emerging talents capable of competing on the global stage.
