Nigerian sprint star Alaba Akintola continued his impressive run of form on the American collegiate circuit, powering to victory in the men?s 200 metres at the Music City Challenge held at the Vanderbilt Track & Field Facility in Nashville, Tennessee, The Punch reports.

Representing Middle Tennessee State University, Akintola clocked a time of 20.50 seconds (+0.9 m/s wind) to clinch first place, ahead of strong competition from Antonio Lay (20.64s) and John Sherman (20.72s). The win adds another feather to the cap of the 22-year-old athlete, who has emerged as one of Nigeria?s most consistent performers over the 200m distance in recent seasons.

In addition to his 200m win, Akintola also made a notable appearance in the men?s 100 metres. After a solid showing in the first round, where he posted 10.30 seconds with a +1.3 m/s tailwind to qualify for the final, he eventually settled for a third-place finish in the medal race. His consistency across both sprint distances continues to underline his credentials as one of Nigeria?s leading short-distance prospects.

Akintola?s pedigree on the continental stage is well established. He was part of Nigeria?s gold-medal-winning 4?100 metres relay team at the 2024 African Games in Accra, where they clocked an impressive 38.41 seconds. He also contributed to Nigeria?s bronze-winning sprint relay effort at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

At the national level, the Kwara-born sprinter has been dominant in recent years, winning back-to-back Nigerian 200m titles in 2022 and 2023, recording 20.51s and 20.67s respectively at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. He also helped his team secure the national 4x100m relay crown in 2022 with a time of 38.35s.

The Music City Challenge, hosted by Alabama A\&M University, featured a broad field of collegiate athletes from across the United States. While Akintola was one of the standout performers on the men?s side, the event also witnessed top finishes in other disciplines, including strong showings from female competitors in the high jump, triple jump, and hammer throw and with their non-conference schedule now complete, Alabama A&M will shift focus to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships scheduled for May 11?13, hosted by Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Akintola will be looking to maintain his form heading into key meets and championships as the season progresses, with the Nigerian national trials and potential international selections on the horizon. (The PUNCH)

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