Ella Onojuebweno blazes to history with gold at SEC
Nigeria’s Ella Onojuvwevwo produced a breathtaking display at the SEC Indoor Championships, storming to victory in the women’s 400 metres with a lifetime best of 50.96 seconds.
The LSU standout dominated the field in just her second 400m race of the season, carving her name into the record books as only the second African woman in history to break the 51-second barrier indoors. Her time now ranks as the second-fastest indoor 400m ever run by an African woman, underlining the magnitude of the achievement.
The triumph marked a remarkable redemption arc for Onojuvwevwo, who endured heartbreak at the same championships last year after being disqualified for a false start. This time, she left no room for doubt, powering away from the field with authority and composure.
Georgia’s Dejanea Oakley, winner of the other section in 51.21 seconds, finished second overall, while her teammate Hannah Douglas claimed third place with a time of 51.41 seconds.
An emotional Onojuvwevwo reflected on her journey back to the summit after the race, paying tribute to the work behind the scenes.
“It’s been a long year and I’ve been working really hard, thanks to my coach who’s been beside me, he’s been my backbone,” she said.
“I push myself every day in practice, hitting every prep. I keep telling myself this is just one rep, and it’s easy compared to the hard work I do in training, running 450 to 500 metres every day.
“I told myself, it’s just one lap why not go all out?”
With history now rewritten and confidence restored, Onojuvwevwo’s stunning run signals a major statement of intent as the season unfolds.
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