National Collegiate Champion Ezekiel Nathaniel aced the 400m hurdles test on his pro debut at the Prefontaine Classics Diamond League race.
The Nigerian, described as a rising star, held his own against a world-class field, finishing 3rd at the Eugene Diamond League with an impressive 47.88, his third fastest time ever.
Nathaniel shook off the initial jitters to finish strongly in 3rd place with a time of 47.88s.
Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos defeated Olympic champion Rai Benjamin, crossing the line in a Season’s Best of 46.65s, while Benjamin finished 2nd in 46.71s.
Nathaniel Aces 400m Hurdle Test: NCAA Champion to World Contender
Running for Baylor University, Ezekiel won the NCAA championship in 47.49s to cap an undefeated collegiate season.
Summarizing his performance at the NCAA nationals, World Athletics had this to say about him: Baylor’s Ezekiel Nathaniel entered this week’s NCAA Championships as one of the fastest athletes in the world in the 400m hurdles, and left as a rising challenger for the World Athletics Champs in Tokyo later this year.
Also, Nathaniel has broken his national record three times this year, with his last coming in his 400mH semifinal at the NCAA Championships in Oregon, storming to a new personal best and National Record of 47.86s.
He has now run three National Records under 48 seconds this year: 47.90, 47.89, 47.86.
Furthermore, Nathaniel broke the African 400m indoor Record with a time of 44.92s on the 15th of February 2025.
Since breaking Henry Amike’s long-standing National Record of 48.50s in 2022, Ezekiel Nathaniel has now broken the Nigerian 400mH Record an astonishing five times in three years.
As Nathaniel aces 400m hurdle test at the world stage, the Tokyo world championships represent his next challenge.