21st of February, 2019, marked the 20th anniversary of DejiAliu’s 60m National Record, and his 50m African Record. Considering that we are still in the indoor season (at least for athletes based abroad), I felt it would be worthwhile to dedicate today’s column to Aliu who is one of only eight men from Nigeria to have ever run under 10sec in the men’s 100m. He is also ranked the 6th fastest Nigerian in the 200m on the all-time list.
Aliu belongs to the distinguished class of Nigerian athletes who made the country proud during their days and gave the sport their all. He rose through the ranks, emerging World Junior Champion in the men’s 100m at the World U20 Championships in Portugal in 1994, and won a Silver medal in the 200m as well.
Five years later, he performed the outstanding feat of racing to the African Record in the 50m while competing in the Meeting Pas de CalaisinLiévin, France, clocking a time of 5.61sec. Later that day, he stormed to a Nigerian Record of 6.48sec in the 60m. Both records still stand.
Aliu recollects how he felt on that day: “It was more like a double celebration for me because in the morning of that day, I set the African Record in the 50m, so my expectations were high that if I could replicate what I did in the morning, I should be able to do something spectacular in the afternoon, and that was exactly what happened. I was very happy because every time you set records, you should be happy.
“However I didn’t celebrate the 20th anniversary of the record because records are meant to be broken, but it’s nice looking back at something that still gives you joy and a good memory of the past. Honestly I didn’t expect the record to stand till this time but someone will definitely break it,”he said.
Divine Oduduru came close to the record a few weeks back after running a time of 6.52sec to win the 60m title at the Big 12 Indoor Championships. He will also aim to break the record this weekend at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Indoor Championships, and Aliu believes anything is possible.
“Anything is possible! At the time I was expecting OlusojiFasuba to break the record, he came very close (6.49sec). When I saw Divine’s time at the Big 12 Championships, it raised my hopes. He looks good; if what he did some weeks ago is anything to go by, the record is in big trouble.”
Aliu represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 where he narrowly missed the podium after placing 4th. He also finished 5th at the IAAF World Championships the following year. However, he is best remembered for his exploits at the 2003 All-African Games hosted by Nigeria. Having won the 100m at the National Championships with the first sub-10sec of his career (9.98sec), Aliu dominated the rest of the continent in the 100m final, lowering his time to a Personal Best (PB) of 9.95sec to win GOLD ahead of teammate UchennaEmedolu.
A year later, he joined forces with OlusojiFasuba, Emedolu and Aaron Egbeleto win a Bronze medal in the men’s 4x100m relay at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
Aliu has since moved into coaching and now serves as the Head Coach of Making of Champions, an Athletics Club based in Lagos which has produced the likes of Joy udo-Gabriel who won a Bronze medal in the women’s 4x100m at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, and a Bronze medal in the 100m at the African Championships in Asaba.
Aliu admits that he still misses his active days as an athlete, but is hoping to raise athletes that will break his records, should Oduduru miss the 60m record this weekend.
“I miss every bit of my active days, and that’s why most times I try to get involved with my athletes, train with them and try to feel that sense of training again. Right now I’m into coaching. I’m trying to enjoy every bit of it and the good part is I am blessed with very gifted and talented athletes, so it’s been fun all the way.
“Someone was asking me some questions some time ago, lamenting about the fact that for some time now nobody has done a sub-10, so I told him that they are probably still waiting for one of my athletes to pave the way and run a sub-10sec. I believe that’s what is going to happen in the 100m, and that one of them will also break my record in the 60m hopefully.”
