Nigerian Athlete Makes History With Record-Breaking Run

Nigerian athlete Ezekiel Nathaniel has made history by setting a new African record in the 400m indoor race.

The 21-year-old, who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics, achieved this feat during the 2025 Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championship in Lubbock, Texas. He completed the race in 44.74 seconds, surpassing his own previous record.

This remarkable performance comes just two weeks after Nathaniel became the first African to run the 400m indoor race in under 45 seconds. During the Jarvis Scott Invite, also in Lubbock, he had clocked an impressive 44.92 seconds.

In the final race, Nathaniel faced tough competition from Arizona State’s Jayden Davis, who had been strong in the qualifying rounds. He took the lead early, completing the first lap in just 21.09 seconds. Maintaining his speed and control, he crossed the finish line ahead of Davis, who finished in 44.95 seconds.

Nathaniel’s success did not stop there. He also played a crucial role in his university’s men’s 4x400m relay team, helping them secure their 17th Big 12 title with a time of 3:04.78. His record-breaking run now places him as the eighth-fastest man in the world for the distance and the sixth-fastest in NCAA history.

His contributions helped his university’s men’s team secure third place overall, earning 84 points. They finished behind Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, which scored 87 and 124 points, respectively.

Ezekiel Nathaniel is now preparing for more challenges. In two weeks, he will compete at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships in Virginia Beach. He is also set to represent Nigeria at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, later in March.

His journey in athletics began at the Buka Tigers Athletics Club in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. He first gained attention in 2021 when he finished fourth at the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi. A coach from Baylor University spotted his talent, leading him to move to the USA for further training and competition.

In his freshman year in 2022, Ezekiel Nathaniel broke Nigeria’s long-standing 400m hurdles record, previously held by Henry Amike, with a time of 48.42 seconds. Two years later, he improved that record to 48.00 seconds.

On the international stage, Ezekiel Nathaniel has continued to impress. He reached the semi-finals of the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Championships in 2022 and 2023. He also advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 400m at the Paris 2024 Olympics. With his recent achievements, he has further cemented his place as one of Africa’s top sprinters.
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