Nathaniel sets another African 400m indoor record to win Big 12 Championships, Umukoro grabs 60m silver
Tabugo breaks eight seconds to win silver in 60m hurdles
Nathaniel Ezekiel improved his African record to 44.74 to win the 400m title at the 2025 Big 12 Championships held at the TTU Sports Performance Center in Lubbock, Texas on Saturday to punch his ticket to the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships holding later this month in Virginia.
The Nigerian made history last month when he ran 44.92 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 specializes 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 a sub-45 seconds in the 400m indoors twice.
The time is not only an African record, it also ensures 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.
The Nigerian 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.
Nathaniel 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 hurdles, Adaobi Tabugo was also second, running inside eight seconds (7.99) for the first time in her career.
The time moves her to fifth in the Nigerian all-time list behind Tobi Amusan (7.75), Glory Alozie (7.82), Josephine Onyia (7.88) and Taiwo Aladefa (7.95).
She also becomes the seventh African woman to break eight seconds over the event.
