Nigerian Youngster Breaks 60m Hurdles World Record In France

A Nigerian sprinter based in France broke the world Under-18 record in the men’s 60m hurdles at the French indoors championships for under-16s and under-18s on Saturday.

Jaed Ejiasian crossed the finish line in 7.43s to claim the winner’s medal in the 60m hurdles event, breezing past the field with a surprise victory at the Stade Couvert Jesse Owens, in Val-de-Reuil.

The 16 years old’s time breaks the 7.48s record previously set by French starlet Sasha Zhoya in 2019, taking five hundredth of a second off the previous mark.

The 60m hurdles final took place on the first day of the two-day championship, and a fired-up Ejiasian broke free of the field early in the race and stormed over the finish line to post the record-breaking time.

Victory is Ejiasian’s second this year triumph and record this year, as the athlete of Nigerian heritage resident in France but running under the Nigerian flag had set the African record for an under-18 athlete in the Tempo Run League 60m hurdles final with 7.57s, a time that was enough to put him as the fastest time of the year before his new record Saturday afternoon.

He is expected to also feature in the long jump event of the French Indoors Championships that ends tomorrow.