Olatunde joins Iowa University from Harding

Nigerian sprinter and Confederation of African Athletics 100m champion, Olaolu Olatunde, has switched to the University of Iowa from NCAA Division II side Harding University, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Big 10 school announced the arrival of the Nigerian on Wednesday as they prepare a strong contingent ahead of next season.

“Getting faster. Welcome, Olaolu,” the school wrote across its social media platforms, quoting the athlete’s 100m and 200m personal bests of 9.95s and 20.39s, respectively.

Olatunde was recently named Harding University’s Most Valuable Athlete for 2025 following a record-breaking season that established him as one of the standout performers in United States collegiate athletics.

His recognition came during the 2025 Harding Track and Field Awards Banquet in October, where the men’s and women’s teams were celebrated for a dominant campaign.

During his time at Harding, Olatunde rewrote the school’s record books and made his mark on the national and international stage.

The 23-year-old, an NCAA Division II finalist, shattered Harding’s long-standing sprint records after clocking 10.14s in the 100m and 20.65s in the 200m in May 2025.

Olatunde had already demonstrated blistering form earlier in the year when he ran a wind-assisted 9.95s in the 100m, further cementing his status as one of the fastest Nigerian sprinters in college.

In August, he extended his success to the continental stage at the CAA Region II Championships in Accra, where he won his first senior gold medal for Nigeria.

He triumphed in the men’s 100m final with a composed run of 10.60s, edging out a competitive field to secure a landmark victory for his country.

He also ran 10.13s at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, which ranked him as the 10th fastest Nigerian, 35th fastest man in Africa and 113th in the world in 2025.