Leroy Burell: Favour Ashe’s Auburn University’s headliner to 2023 NCAA outdoor championships

Auburn University track and field coach Leroy Burrell who once held the title of the “World’s Fastest Human,” evidenced by world records he held in the 100 and 200-meter dashes in the mid-1990s says Nigeria’s Favour Ashe’s headlines the University’s team to the 2023 NCAA outdoor championships in Austin, Texas.

Ashe is leading a 10-man Auburn University team to the championships and Burrell believes the Nigerian can deliver the gold this time after his silver medal finish last year.

“On the men’s side, Favour Ashe is the headliner, and we are really hoping that our three headed hammer crew can score some points as well,” Auburn Tigers first-year head coach Leroy Burell said.

Ashe will be competing on the first day of competition and the Nigerian will seeking to go a step further by claiming the gold.

The 21 year old clocked 10.08 at the championships a year ago while a freshman at Tennessee to become the national runner-up to Florida’s Joseph Fahnbulleh.

This time, Ashe will be hoping to become the third Nigerian to be crowned the NCAA outdoor championships fastest man after Olopade Adeniken (1992) and Divine Oduduru.

He will also be seeking to become the seventh African to win the 100m title.

Ashe qualified for the championships clocking a wind-aided 9.92 at the NCAA Division I East First Rounds in Jacksonville, Florida last month.