Ezekiel Nathaniel produced a sensational performance at the UCF Invitational in Florida, storming to victory in the men’s 400m with a new outdoor personal best of 44.75s. Nathaniel dominated the race, winning by almost a second and a half ahead of Nickory Richards, who finished a distant second in 46.21s. With this performance, Nathaniel not only strengthens his rising star among the quarter mile elite but also adds another World Championship qualifier to his growing list, having already secured the mark in both the 400m and 400m hurdles.
Meanwhile, at the Tiger Track Classic in Auburn, Samuel Ogazi made a brilliant return to outdoor competition, winning the men’s 400m in 44.98s. It was Ogazi’s first 400m race of the year and only his second individual race of the entire 2025 season, following a brief indoor appearance in January. Despite the limited races under his belt, Ogazi showed little rust, delivering a sub-45s performance that signals he is back and ready to contend among the world’s best.
With Nathaniel and Ogazi both dipping under 45 seconds early in the outdoor season, Nigerian athletics is looking increasingly dangerous in the 400m event. Their sharp form not only builds excitement ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo but also significantly boosts Nigeria’s prospects in the men’s 4x400m relay at major international meets. As the season progresses, both athletes are expected to keep pushing the boundaries and carrying Nigerian sprinting to new heights.