Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel carved his name into the record books on Wednesday at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, after storming into the men’s 400m hurdles final with a breathtaking semifinal performance.
The Nigerian record holder and NCAA Champion took charge of Semifinal 2 from the outset and powered home in 47.47 seconds — the fastest time across all semifinal heats. His commanding run not only secured victory but also confirmed his place among the medal favorites in Thursday’s final.
Read Also: “Delay Is Not Denial”: Young Footballer from Nigeria: Adeyemi Blessed Shares His Journey of Struggles and Hope
Nathaniel’s achievement is historic, making him the first Nigerian man to qualify for the 400m hurdles final at the World Championships since Henry Amike did so in 1987, ending a 38-year wait for the country.
It was also a promising day for Nigeria’s sprint star, Udodi Onwuzurike, who began his men’s 200m campaign on a solid note. The national champion clocked 20.27 seconds to finish second in his heat, earning an automatic spot in the semifinals. He crossed the line just behind American Kenneth Bednarek, who won in 19.98 seconds, while South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile also posted 20.27 to place third.
With Nathaniel blazing a historic trail in the hurdles and Onwuzurike advancing smoothly in the sprints, Nigerian athletics fans have every reason to be optimistic as the championships in Tokyo intensify.
