Adeshina named USTFCCCA mountain region athlete of the year after dominant indoor campaign

Nigerian high jumper and national record holder, Temitope Adeshina, has been recognised as the Women’s Field Athlete of the Year for the Mountain Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following an outstanding and unbeaten indoor season, Sport360NG reports. 

Adeshina underlined her dominance by securing a third consecutive Big 12 Conference title and successfully defending her NCAA Indoor Championships crown, maintaining a remarkable level of consistency throughout the campaign.

The athlete cleared a minimum height of 1.93m in every competition during the season, peaking with a winning jump of 1.97m, a performance that matched both her personal best and the Nigerian national record.

After clinching gold at the NCAA Indoor Championships, Adeshina attempted to scale 2.00m, a height that would have equalled the NCAA indoor record, but fell short in three attempts.

The Nigerian star, who holds both the indoor and outdoor national high jump records, is now setting her sights on extending her success into the outdoor season.

Her rise has been steady in recent years. In 2024, she established national records in both indoor and outdoor events, before claiming her maiden NCAA title in 2025. She also represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, finishing outside the medal positions.

A three-time national champion, Adeshina initially set her 1.97m national record at the Big 12 Championships in Kansas in May 2025 and has since equalled the mark twice this season.

She is only the second Nigerian woman to compete in the Olympic high jump event, following in the footsteps of Doreen Amata, who featured at the 2008 and 2016 Olympic Games.

Adeshina made history in March 2025 by becoming the first Nigerian to win an NCAA high jump title, clearing 1.94m at the Indoor Championships held at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in the United States.