Ahead of the next athletics season, Nigeria’s presence in the National Collegiate Athletic Association keeps growing with the addition of fast-rising sprinter Anita Enaruna to Arizona State University.
The Arizona State Sun Devils announced her signing on Wednesday.
“International Devils. Welcome aboard, Anita!” the team posted via Instagram.
Enaruna, 19, who majors in the 200m and 400m events, rose to prominence for Nigeria at the joint Confederation of African Athletics U-18 and U-20 Championships, which was held in Abeokuta in July.
She was part of the women’s U-20 4x100m relay quartet that won gold for Nigeria in Abeokuta. She combined with Lucy Nwankwo, Success Oyibu, and Chioma Nweke and stormed to a winning time of 45.58s.
This year as well, she won the women’s 200m gold in a time of 23.91s at the CAA Region II Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana.
Earlier this month, she lowered her personal best in the 200m to 23.36s, finishing as the overall fastest qualifier for the women’s 200m final at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
She later finished 6th with a time of 24.03s in the final.
Enaruna also featured in the mixed 4x400m relay team as Nigeria clinched the gold medal ahead of Bahrain and Turkey.
She joined Gafari Badmus, Ezekiel Asuquo and Patience Okon George for a season’s best of 3:16:27s to win the race.
Her PB in the 400m, which she ran in Abeokuta, stands at 53.67s.
