Tarleton State freshman Prestina Ochonogor has secured a place on Nigeria’s team for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, scheduled for September 13–21 at Tokyo’s Japan National Stadium. The 19-year-old long jumper will be making her World Championships debut after competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics at the age of 17.
Ochongor, a native of Benin, Nigeria, enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Tarleton State Texans. She won both the WAC indoor and outdoor long jump titles, setting meet records with leaps of 6.64 meters indoors and 6.67 meters outdoors. Her performances earned her First Team All-American honours at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, making her the only freshman to receive such recognition in women’s long jump this year.
“Prestina has worked very hard this year, and it has shown very well,” said Tarleton State head coach Bobby Carter. “One thing she has told me all this year is that anything means nothing until you make it something. Well, she has done just that.”
In addition to her collegiate success, Ochonogor dominated national and continental competitions during the summer. She captured gold at the African U20 Championships with a new record of 6.71 meters and defended her Nigerian national long jump title with a 6.52-meter leap.
Entering the World Championships ranked 35th globally, Ochonogor is Nigeria’s youngest long jumper in the top 40. She will join three-time Olympian Ese Brume as one of two Nigerian women representing the country in Tokyo.
The women’s long jump qualifying round is set to begin on September 13, with the finals taking place the following day. Ochonogor will aim to improve on her 12th-place finish at the 2024 Olympics and build on a season that has already established her as one of Nigeria’s leading emerging athletes.
