Nigerian Sprinter Olaolu Olatunde Named Harding University’s Most Valuable Athlete for 2025

Nigerian sprinter Olaolu Olatunde has been crowned Harding University’s Most Valuable Athlete for 2025 after an exceptional, record-breaking season that established him as one of the top collegiate athletes in the United States.

The recognition was announced during the 2025 Harding Track and Field Awards Banquet held on Saturday, where the men’s and women’s teams were honoured for their remarkable performances throughout the season. Olatunde, a sophomore, had an extraordinary year, rewriting school records and making a name for himself both nationally and internationally.

The 23-year-old NCAA Division II finalist broke Harding’s long-standing sprint records with a 10.14s finish in the 100m and 20.65s in the 200m, both achieved in May and officially ratified as new school records. Earlier in the season, he clocked a wind-assisted 9.95s in the 100m, underlining his status as one of Nigeria’s fastest college athletes. His standout performances powered Harding to multiple team victories and earned him wider recognition beyond the U.S. collegiate circuit.

Olatunde extended his success internationally in August, clinching his first senior gold medal for Nigeria at the CAA Region II Championships in Accra, where he won the men’s 100m final in 10.60s. Ranked as Nigeria’s third-fastest man over 200m this season with a best time of 20.39s, Olatunde capped a stellar year that also saw several teammates honoured — including Parker Hansen for Highest GPA, Tytus Daughtery for Most Improved and Bison Spirit Awards, and Kenny Hatley for the Bison Heart Award. Derick St. Jean was named team captain, while Spencer Helms, Luke Walling, Vlad Malykhin, and Caledon Ruwende received awards for distance running, sprinting, jumping, and best newcomer, respectively.