In a season that has seen him redefine excellence, Nigerian sensation Ezekiel Nathaniel delivered a historic performance at Hayward Field by storming to victory in the men’s 400m hurdles final at the NCAA Championships. The Baylor University senior clocked a blistering 47.49s a massive personal best, and fourth time breaking his own Nigerian record, and the third fastest time in NCAA history. Dominating a fiercely competitive field, Nathaniel not only secured his first NCAA title but cemented his legacy as one of the greatest hurdlers in collegiate history.
Nathaniel’s progression through the 2025 season has been nothing short of remarkable performances . He began the year by breaking both the Nigerian indoor 400m record and the African indoor record in the 400m flat, posting a staggering 44.74s ranking 8th all time indoors. Shifting focus to his primary event, the 400m hurdles, he opened the outdoor season with a smooth 48.99s, then posted back to back sub 45s performances in the flat 400m. At the Big 12 Championships, he made headlines again, becoming the first Nigerian to go under 48 seconds in the 400m hurdles clocking 47.90s in the heats and 47.89s in the final. These performances not only extended his national record streak but also confirmed his place as the NCAA’s top contender.
By the time the NCAA Nationals arrived, Nathaniel had transformed into a juggernaut. He entered the meet as the collegiate leader and left no doubt in the final, dominating the race with a national record of 47.49s making him the second fastest man in the world for 2025 and third fastest collegian in history. This record now places him third on the African all time list and 26th globally. With this sensational finish to his collegiate career, Ezekiel Nathaniel has not only etched his name in the record books but also elevated the profile of Nigerian athletics on the world stage.