Prestina Ochonogor, a rising star in Nigerian athletics, commenced her 2025 season with a resounding victory at the Southwest Athletics Conference Pre-National Sports Festival Meet in Ile-Ife. Competing in the women’s long jump, Ochonogor soared to a distance of 6.85m, eclipsing her previous personal best of 6.79m set in April 2024. This impressive leap, achieved at an early-season meet designed to provide athletes with a competitive platform to launch their year, underscores Ochonogor’s continued trajectory of improvement and her potential for future success. However, official ratification of the new personal best hinges on the meet’s inclusion in the World Athletics Calendar, a crucial factor for record recognition. The 18-year-old also participated in the women’s 100m event at the meet, demonstrating her versatility across athletic disciplines.
Ochonogor’s burgeoning career has been marked by a rapid ascent through the ranks of Nigerian athletics. Her international debut at the 2024 African Games in Ghana proved to be a pivotal moment. There, she secured a bronze medal in the women’s long jump with a wind-assisted leap of 6.67m, contributing to a dominant Nigerian 1-3 finish alongside the established star, Ese Brume. This achievement not only showcased her talent on a continental stage but also highlighted her ability to perform under pressure in a major championship setting. This performance set the stage for her continued progress in the sport, establishing her as a key figure in the future of Nigerian long jumping.
Ochonogor’s personal best of 6.79m, achieved at the MTN Champs grand finale in Calabar, holds significant weight, as it represents the African U-20 record. Surpassing the previous mark set by Ese Brume, Ochonogor demonstrated her capacity to not only compete with established athletes but also to rewrite the record books. Her additional personal best of 11.74s in the 100m further exemplifies her athletic prowess and her commitment to excelling in multiple events. This achievement further solidified her status as one of the most promising young athletes not only in Nigeria but also across the African continent.
Her continued success on the international circuit is evident in her gold medal win at the CAA Region II Championships, her second international senior outing for Nigeria, and her subsequent victory at the Nigerian Athletics Championships. Claiming her first national title with a jump of 6.75m, Ochonogor solidified her position as a force to be reckoned with in Nigerian athletics. While a podium finish narrowly eluded her at the African Championships in Douala, Cameroon, where she placed fourth, she still managed to secure qualification for the prestigious Paris Olympics, a testament to her consistency and high level of performance.
The 2024 Paris Olympics represented another significant milestone in Ochonogor’s career. As part of a Nigerian trio, including Ese Brume and Ruth Usoro, she reached the women’s long jump final, a remarkable accomplishment for a young athlete competing on the world’s biggest stage. While she finished 12th in the final, her participation in the Olympics cemented her status as a world-class athlete and provided invaluable experience for her future endeavors. Concluding her breakout season with a fifth-place finish at the World U-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, Ochonogor demonstrated her consistent ability to compete at the highest level of junior competition.
Prestina Ochonogor’s journey thus far exemplifies the trajectory of a dedicated and talented athlete. From her initial successes at the African Games to her participation in the Paris Olympics and World U-20 Championships, she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to excellence. Her recent victory at the Southwest Athletics Conference Pre-National Sports Festival Meet, marked by a potential new personal best, reinforces her promise as a future star of Nigerian and international athletics. With her unwavering dedication and burgeoning talent, Ochonogor is poised to achieve even greater heights in the years to come. Her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring young athletes, demonstrating the power of hard work, determination, and the pursuit of excellence. As she continues to hone her skills and compete on the world stage, the world will undoubtedly be watching Prestina Ochonogor’s rise in the world of track and field.
