Nigerian 400m hurdles sensation, Ezekiel Nathaniel, has once again stamped his name in the record books, blazing to a stunning 47.89 seconds to claim the Big 12 Championships title in Kansas.
With this remarkable performance, Nathaniel not only clinched the gold medal but also broke his own Nigerian national record, which he had set just two days earlier.
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Coming off an already historic semifinal run of 47.90s, which had shattered his previous national best, the Baylor University athlete dug even deeper in the final, shaving off 0.01s to become the first and only NCAA athlete to run under 48 seconds in the 400m hurdles this season.
The performance firmly establishes Nathaniel as a standout contender on the global stage heading into the summer, and underlines his status as Nigeria’s premier hurdler.
“This means everything to me. I knew I had something special left for the final,” said an elated Nathaniel after the race. “Breaking my own record again shows the work is paying off.”
The 21-year-old continues to climb the ranks in world athletics, and with Paris 2024 Olympic finalists returning to the scene, all eyes will be on Ezekiel as he prepares for the NCAA Championships and potential international competitions later this year.
Nathaniel first broke the Nigerian record at the 2022 NCAA Championships with 48.42s, and has since lowered the mark multiple times — a testament to his consistency and growth in the sport.
As the countdown to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (August 2025) continues, Nigeria may just have found its next global medal contender in the hurdles.
