Amusan, Ezekiel, Enekwechi End 2025 in World Athletics Top 100
Three Nigerian athletes, Tobi Amusan, Nathaniel Ezekiel, and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, closed out 2025 ranked among the world’s top 100 stars of the sport by World Athletics.
Their performances across hurdles and shot put ensured Nigeria’s presence on the global stage at the highest level.
Amusan, the sprint hurdler who claimed silver in the 100m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last September, amassed 1,430 ranking points to finish the year as the third best sprint hurdler worldwide.
She trailed only America’s Grace Stark and Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who stunned the field by winning gold. At 28, Amusan became the only Nigerian woman to break into the top five of her event and secured 28th place in the overall 2025 women’s rankings.
Nathaniel Ezekiel capped a breakout season by ending 2025 as the fifth-ranked 400m hurdler globally and 15th in the men’s overall standings.
The 22-year-old made history with his Diamond League debut, reaching the final and finishing third on the podium.
He also became the first Nigerian to dip under 48 seconds in the 400m hurdles, achieving the feat nine times, with a national record of 47.11 seconds which is just one hundredth shy of Zambia’s Samuel Matete’s African best.
Shot put specialist Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, a multiple African champion, also secured a place in the top 100 men’s rankings after finishing fifth in Tokyo.
He closed the year ranked 100th in the men’s overall ranking and seventh in his event, joining Amusan, Ezekiel, and Favour Ofili (ninth in the women’s 200m) as the only Nigerians to end 2025 inside the top 10 of their disciplines.
