Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel has capped off a remarkable 2025 athletics season as a finalist for the prestigious Bowerman Award, following a sensational year competing for Baylor University across the 400m hurdles and the 400m.
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Nathaniel’s NCAA campaign was nothing short of historic. He stormed to the NCAA men’s 400m hurdles title and remained unbeaten in the event throughout the season, underlining his dominance on the collegiate stage. Indoors, he claimed silver in the NCAA 400m and went on to emerge Big 12 champion in both the 400m and the 4x400m relay.
His performances rewrote the NCAA record books. Nathaniel clocked a blistering 47.49 seconds in the 400m hurdles, making him the third-fastest athlete in NCAA history. Indoors, his 44.74 seconds ranked him sixth-fastest in NCAA history and eighth fastest of all time. He also became the only athlete in NCAA history to record four all-time top-10 marks in the 400m hurdles.
In recognition of his outstanding season, Nathaniel was named the USTFCCCA Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, further cementing his status as one of the most accomplished collegiate athletes of his generation.
Beyond the NCAA, the Nigerian continued his upward trajectory on the global stage. In 2025 alone, Nathaniel broke the Nigerian 400m hurdles record six times, including two new national records after the collegiate season.
He closed the year with a fourth-place finish at the World Championships, clocking 47.11 seconds — a performance that elevated him to 10th on the all-time list in the event.
Despite his historic year, the Bowerman Award — often described as the “Heisman of collegiate track and field” — was won by American sprinter Jordan Anthony of Arkansas.
While the top honour narrowly eluded him, Nathaniel’s season stands as one of the greatest ever by a Nigerian athlete in the NCAA system, signaling the rise of a global force in the 400m hurdles and a bright future for Nigerian athletics on the world stage.
