It had been quite a season for Akani Simbine this year, and he set the basis for it very early on. He recorded a time of 9.90 s on April 12, 2025, at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in Gaborone, held at the National Stadium. His mark stood as the fastest in the world—a college student stunned the track world. Now, Abdul-Rasheed Saminu has set the track on fire at the NCAA East Regionals. The Ghanaian sprinter unleashed a phenomenal 9.86s (wind +0.6 m/s), not only breaking his country’s national record, but also overtaking Simbine for the world lead. What was the next stop for him?

The 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships are taking place from June 11–14 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Featuring 42 events—21 each for men and women—the nation’s top collegiate athletes are competing for individual and team titles. Abdul-Rasheed Saminu was there in the men’s 100 meters in a field of some speed demons like Israel Okon Sunday, etc. How did it go for the young star?

The man with one of the fastest 100-meter times for 2025 could not even get anywhere near his previous record. What is even more heartbreaking for the young track and field star is that he could not even deliver a performance worthy of a podium finish. He was the fourth to cross the finish line with a time of 10.11s. Worse? He could not make it to the finals of the NCAA 100 meters. Jelani Watkins of LSU won the race, crossing the line in 10.02s (-0.2). Israel Okon (Auburn) came 2nd in 10.07s (PB).

Starting in lane number 5, the South Florida track and field athlete had a good start. Even the commentators were quick to notice and say, “Good start for Saminu as well as Taylor Banks, but Bankston struggles. Now, Jelani Watkins comes into the scene.” Watkins did come into the scene and just brushed past everybody to win the race effortlessly, while Saminu followed in fourth.

But one race is not enough to define the kind of athlete he is, though. From the tracks of NAIA to the tracks of the Olympics, the man has seen it all and is just not your ordinary athlete, but a big talent.

Abdul-Rasheed Saminu’s collegiate track and field career

Abdul-Rasheed Saminu began his collegiate sprinting career at Florida Memorial University (FMU), competing at the NAIA level. He first made headlines by winning the indoor 60 m dash with 6.63 s in 2023. That spring, he claimed the outdoor 100 m (10.23 s) crown at the NAIA Championships, while in the 200 m, he recorded 20.74 s. In 2024, Saminu transferred to the University of South Florida (USF), making an immediate impact. He recorded a personal best at the USF indoor 60 m, clocking in 6.57 s, at the AAC Championships and earned First‑Team All‑American status by reaching the NCAA Indoor final.

In the outdoor season, on April 5–6 at the South Florida Invitational, he set program and NCAA-leading times of 9.95 s in the 100 m and 20.34 s in the 200 m. At the AAC Championships in May, he claimed gold in the 100, 200, and the 4×100 m relay (which he anchored to a school‑record 38.44 s). At the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, USF saw Saminu place 5th in the 100 m (10.02 s) and 3rd in the 200 m (20.12 s)—both performances earning First‑Team All‑America honors and meeting Olympic qualifying standards. He then went on to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics, advancing to the 100 m semifinals and anchoring Ghana’s 4×100 relay.

In the 2024–25 indoor season, Saminu reaffirmed his dominance by matching his USF 60 m record (6.57 s) at the AAC Indoor meet, where he was also named Indoor MVP. Then he went to break Akani Simbine’s world lead. He might have missed the NCAA title this season, but he has been a phenomenal athlete. What are your thoughts on him?