Photo Credit: floridagators.com

University of Florida Freshman, Adekunle Fasasi qualified for the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland after posting 46.60s in the men’s 400m at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships which was held in Fayetteville, Arkansas last weekend.

That notwithstanding, the Nigerian quartermiler who finished 9th overall in the standings, says the final decision as to whether or not to compete in the championships lies with his school coaches.

He said, “I’m glad to have made the mark for the 400m at the World Indoor Championships but my decision to or not to attend would depend on some factors which I am yet to sort out with the Gators coaching staff. Once a conclusion is reached, I will be able to make my decision concerning the championship and communicate it.”

Despite not getting to the final in the 400m, Fasasi was consoled with a victorious outing in the 4x400m a day later as he partnered with team mates Najee Glass, Eric Futch and Arman Hall to return an impressive time of 3:04.02 to finish ahead of the University of Georgia and Texas A and M.

He said, “I ran the second leg for my team and I’d say I’m pretty satisfied with my performance in the relay. I did not particularly run to the best of my ability in the 400m but I’d take it still, so I had to put a better performance in the relay with a sub 46s split without competition from other runners and that felt just great.”

The African Junior Championships Bronze medallist also spoke to Making of Champions on how his first season in the US is panning out:

“Well, my experience as a freshman this season has been interesting. I must say that I’ve had a lot to learn as I never got to run indoors before I got to the States. I made a couple of mistakes and learned a lot in the process. I feel like I still have a lot to learn and I can only get better. I strongly hope for a much better performance outdoor and the indoor season has served as a preparation for that.”

Fasasi joins the pair of Stephen Mozia (Shot put) and Chidi Okezie (400m) who also hit the qualifying standard for Portland 2016 during this indoor season. The entry standard for the men’s 400m is 46.70s, and Okezie clocked 46.48s last weekend, while that of Shot put is 20.50m, with Mozia surpassing the mark with superior throw of 21.11m earlier in the year.

Photo Credit: floridagators.com
Photo Credit: floridagators.com

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Yemi Galadima is a Senior Sportswriter and Editor at Making of Champions. She has a bias for Athletics and was previously a Sports Reporter at the National Mirror, where she hosted a weekly column ‘On the Track with Yemi Olus’ for over two years. A self-acclaimed ‘athletics junkie’, she has covered national and international events live, such as the African Athletics Championships, African Games, Olympics and World Athletics Championships. She also freelances for World Athletics.

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