Nigerian sprinter Ezekiel Nathaniel clinched his first individual NCAA Indoor Championship medal by winning silver in the fiercely competitive men’s 400m final with a time of 45.44 seconds. The race, held in a packed stadium atmosphere that buzzed with excitement, saw Canada’s Will Floyd emerge as the surprise champion by a razor-thin margin of one-hundredth of a second, clocking in at 45.43 seconds.
Ezekiel Nathaniel is a Nigerian sprinter making waves in collegiate track and field while representing Baylor University. His performance not only earned him podium recognition but also positioned him as one of the fastest 400m runners in the Big 12 Conference.
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s Under 18 Team In Final As Under 23 Team Falters In IHF Competitions
Nathaniel’s rise has been meteoric—he broke his own African and National indoor records at the Big 12 Indoor Championships with a time of 44.74 seconds, marking him as a record-setter and one of the standout talents on the NCAA circuit. His achievements have garnered attention not just for their speed but also for the consistency and technical finesse he brings to every race.
His impressive performance further cements Nigeria’s growing reputation in international collegiate athletics—a sign that the country’s talent pool continues to produce world-class competitors.
Looking ahead, Nathaniel is setting his sights on the outdoor season, where expectations will be high for him to build on his indoor success. With plans to refine his technique and further improve his race tactics, he is determined to challenge for gold in future competitions and potentially represent Nigeria on the global stage.
As the NCAA Indoor Championships continue to serve as a launchpad for emerging athletic talent, Nathaniel’s breakthrough performance offers a promising glimpse of what the future holds for Nigerian sprinting.
