Raymond Ekevwo

Raymond Ekevwo (born 23 March 1999) is a Nigerian sprinter. He is the 2019 African Games champion in the 100 metres.[3][4] He was also a member of the Nigerian 4 × 100 m relay team that won a silver medal at the games.[5]

Raymond Ekevwo

Personal information
Nationality	Nigerian
Born	(1999-03-23) 23 March 1999 Ughelli, Nigeria[1]
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	100 metres
College team	Florida Gators
Coached by	Mike Holloway
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	100 m – 9.96 (2019) 200 m – 20.84 (2019)[2]
Medal record Representing  Nigeria Men's athletics African Games 2019 Rabat 100 m 2019 Rabat 4×100 m relay 2022 Commonwealth Games 2022 Birmingham 4×100 m relay

Ekevwo's athletic talent had been obvious since his school days. In 2015, while still a student at High Standard Comprehensive School, Ughelli, he auditioned for the Making of Champions Reality TV athletics competition, Top Sprinter.[6] He eventually had all judges trying to get him on their teams. He won the senior 100 m title and prize at the 2016 edition of the competition while still a junior.[7]

He became the Nigerian junior champion in the 100 metres at the 2016 D K Olukoya Youth and Junior Championships winning with a then personal best of 10.35 s.[8] As the national junior champion, he was selected to represent the country at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships. He however missed the race as the Nigerian team did not arrive in time for the competition.[9] He took part in the 4 × 100 m relay with teammates Soyemi Abiola, Godwin Ashien and Emmanuel Arowolo but didn't progress to the finals.

Ekevwo joined Oral Roberts University for the 2017 - 2018 season but had a short season due to injuries.[10] He eventually transferred to the University of Florida over the summer for the next season. A team of Ekevwo, Hakim Sani Brown, Grant Holloway and Ryan Clark became the 2019 NCAA champions in the 4 × 100 m relay.

He became the fifth Nigerian man to win the African Games title in the 100 m at the 2019 African Games in Rabat.[11] After an unbeaten run through the rounds he clocked an impressive 9.96 s to win the title just ahead of Arthur Cisse.[4] This mark set a new African Games record. He then teamed up with Divine Oduduru, Emmanuel Arowolo and Usheoritse Itsekiri for the 4 × 100 m relay. The team placed second behind the Ghanaian team to win the silver medal.[5]