U.S.-based Nathaniel sets African 400m indoor record

Umukoro wins 60m silver medal
United States-based Nigeria 400m runner, Ezekiel Nathaniel, has hinted at what is expected of him at the fast-approaching World Indoor Championships, in China.

This he did by improving his African record to 44.74 to win the 400m title at the 2025 Big 12 Championships, held at the TTU Sports Performance Centre, in Lubbock, Texas, at the weekend.

The victory gave Nathaniel his ticket to the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships, which is holding later this month, in Virginia. He is expected to make the Nigeria 4x400m relay team to the World Indoor Championships, in China.

The Nigerian made history last month when he ran 44.92 seconds to become the first African man to run inside 45 seconds over the full lap race indoors, breaking Sunday Bada’s 45.51 African record set at the World Indoor Championships, in 1997, in Paris, France.

The 21-year-old, who specialises in the 400m hurdles outdoor, cemented his number one and historic status in Africa, in Lubbock as he remains the only African to have run sub-45 seconds in the 400m indoors twice.

The time is not only an African record, but it also ensures that he remains the second fastest so far in the world this year behind USA’s Christopher Bailey, who ran 44.70 last month, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Nathaniel is also one of only three athletes in the event so far this year to break 45 seconds after Jayden Davis also ran 44.95 at the Championships in Lubbock.

Additionally, he has also put himself forward as a potential candidate for the 400m gold medal at the World Indoor Championships later this month in Nanjing, China.

Also at the Big 12 Championships, Success Umukoro (7.19) lost the 60m title by the narrowest of margins to Indya Mayberry (7.18).

In the 60m