Ezekiel Nathaniel, Kanyinsola Ajayi, others shine with record-breaking performances in the US

• Ezekiel Nathaniel storms to a world-leading 44.92s in the 400m, making history as the first African to run sub-45s indoors
• Notably, Chioma Nwachukwu and Olympian Ella Onojuvwevwo dominated the women’s 400m at the Tyson Invitational, finishing first and second with personal bests
• Prosper Ekporere also set a personal best of 7.68s in the 60m hurdles, making him Nigeria’s second-fastest ever in the event

Nigerian track and field athletes made headlines across multiple indoor competitions in the U.S. last weekend, with national record holder Ezekiel Nathaniel producing a world-leading time in the men’s 400m, while Kanyinsola Ajayi, Chioma Nwachukwu, and several others delivered historic performances.

Nathaniel, a semifinalist in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Paris 2024 Olympics, stunned the athletics world over the weekend at the Jarvis Scott Invite in Lubbock, Texas, when he clocked an astonishing 44.92 seconds to win his 400m heat. 

The time was not only the fastest 400m mark in the world this year but also made him the first African and NCAA athlete to run sub-45 seconds indoors in 2025.

Nathaniel also displayed his blistering speed in the men’s 4x400m relay, where he ran an incredible 44.37s anchor leg, nearly securing a win for Baylor University but finishing second behind Texas Tech by milliseconds.

At the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, Kanyinsola Ajayi, a Paris Olympics semifinalist in the men’s 100m, etched his name into the record books by running a personal best of 6.51s to win his 60m race. 

His time matched Auburn’s school record set by Favour Ashe in 2023 and tied him with Davidson Ezinwa as the fourth-fastest Nigerian ever in the event. Only Deji Aliu (6.48s), Olusoji Fasuba (6.49s), and Tosin Ogunode (6.50s) have run faster.

Meanwhile, in the women’s 400m at the Tyson Invitational, Chioma Nwachukwu and Olympian Ella Onojuvwevwo delivered stunning performances, taking first and second place with personal bests of 52.25s and 52.44s, respectively. 

Nwachukwu’s time placed her ninth on Nigeria’s all-time list, while Onojuvwevwo also impressed in the 200m, clocking 23.11s to finish second overall across 16 heats. Tima Godbless followed suit in the 200m, finishing second in her section with a time of 23.45s.

Elsewhere, at the Music City Challenge in Tennessee, Alaba Akintola recorded a season’s best of 6.60s to place second in the men’s 60m final. At the Don Kirby Elite meet in New Mexico, hurdler Prosper Ekporere set a personal best of 7.68s in the 60m hurdles, making him the second-fastest Nigerian ever in the event, behind Selim Nurudeen (7.64s). He also broke the Grand Canyon University school record in the process.

With such dominant performances across multiple events, Nigerian athletes are proving their class on the global stage, setting new standards and building momentum ahead of major outdoor events.

Paris Olympics 2024: Nathaniel, Oborududu impress with wins as Okezie misses out

Previously, TheRadar reported that Nigeria’s hurdler, Ezekiel Nathaniel, broke a 12-year-old record to emerge the third Nigerian in a 400m hurdles semi-final. Oborududu, who represented Nigeria in the wrestling event beats Canada’s Morais for the second time since their last meeting in 2022. 

Although Chidi Okezie was unable to progress to the semifinals even after the repechage round, Nigeria still has Samuel Ogazi who qualified automatically from round one.