Nigerian 400m hurdles national record holder and Paris 2024 Olympics semifinalist, Ezekiel Nathaniel, delivered a record-breaking performance clocking 44.92s to win his 400m heat at the Jarvis Scott Invite in Lubbock, Texas.
Nathaniel’s blistering time is the fastest indoor 400m in the world this year and makes him the first African man in history to run sub-45 seconds indoors. He also became the first NCAA athlete to achieve the feat in 2025.
“We’re living in Nate’s world. No. 1 time in the world. The first person in the NCAA to finish under 45 seconds in 2025,” Baylor Track and Field posted on X.
The 21-year-old further impressed by anchoring Baylor University’s 4x400m relay team with a stunning 44.37s split, helping them secure a close second-place finish behind Texas Tech.
At the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, Paris Olympics 100m semifinalist Kanyinosla Ajayi set a school record, clocking a personal best of 6.51s to win the men’s 60m event. His time matches Auburn’s school record set by Favour Ashe in 2023 and ranks him fourth on Nigeria’s all-time list, alongside Davidson Ezinwa.
Only three Nigerians—Deji Aliu (6.48s), Olusoji Fasuba (6.49s), and Tosin Ogunode (6.50s)—have run faster in the event.
Meanwhile, Nigerian quarter-milers Chioma Nwachukwu and Olympian Ella Onojuvwevwo dominated the women’s 400m at the Tyson Invitational, finishing first and second with new personal bests of 52.25s and 52.44s, respectively. Nwachukwu’s time moved her to ninth on Nigeria’s all-time list.
Onojuvwevwo also set a personal best of 23.11s in the women’s 200m, securing second place overall across 16 heats. At the same meet, Tima Godbless finished second in her 200m section with 23.45s.
Elsewhere, Alaba Akintola ran a season-best 6.60s for a second-place finish in the men’s 60m final at the Music City Challenge in Tennessee.
At the Don Kirby Elite meet in New Mexico, Prosper Ekporere clocked a personal best of 7.68s to win the men’s 60m hurdles. His time makes him the second-fastest Nigerian ever in the event, only behind Selim Nurudeen (7.64s), and also set a new Grand Canyon University school record.
