By Olukayode Olumuyiwa
In a historic display of speed at the French U18 & U20 Championships in Val-de-Reuil, 16-year-old Nigerian hurdler Jared Ejiasian shattered the U18 world record in the men’s 60m hurdles on Saturday, February 21, 2026, clocking an incredible 7.43 seconds.
Competing at the Stade Couvert Jesse Owens, Ejiasian sliced five-hundredths of a second off the previous world best of 7.48 seconds. That mark had been held since 2019 by Sasha Zhoya—the French athletics star whom Ejiasian has now displaced in the record books.
A Season of Rapid Ascent
Ejiasian’s record-breaking run is the pinnacle of a dominant indoor season:
- January 17, 2026: At the Tempo Run League meet in Eaubonne, he posted a time of 7.57 seconds, setting a new African U18 record.
- February 21, 2026: He returned to the track to lower that mark significantly, confirming his status as the fastest U18 athlete in history over the 91.4 cm barriers.
Technically, Ejiasian’s victory was secured by an explosive transition after the second hurdle, where he pulled away from the field to finish nearly uncontested.
Between Two Nations
Born in Nigeria and moved to France at just three months old, Ejiasian represents a unique dual heritage. While he currently competes under the Nigerian flag—adding to a national hurdles legacy recently bolstered by world record holder Tobi Amusan—he is a product of the French club system with AC Nord Val d’Oise.
The young star has reportedly begun the naturalization process to represent France in the future, a move that would see the French Federation secure one of the most promising talents in global athletics.
A Track Record of Dominance
This is not Ejiasian’s first brush with the record books. During his youth career, he was a force in French school competitions:
- Broke the 200m hurdles record three times in a single season.
- Set a national youth mark in the 4x60m mixed relay.
As the athletics world shifts toward the outdoor season, Ejiasian is expected to transition to the 110m hurdles, where the global community will be watching to see if his indoor dominance translates to the longer straightaway.
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