‘I’m going to run 47 very soon,’ Nathaniel confident of breaking barriers to make 400m hurdles history
Nigeria’s 400m hurdles record holder, Ezekiel Nathaniel believes it is only a matter of time before he becomes the first Nigerian and eighth African to go under 48 seconds in the event.
According to Baylor University website, the 20 year old jumped for joy when ‘ he thought he had achieved that on Saturday at the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Waco, Texas when the 47.97-second time flashed on the scoreboard at the end of his record-setting 400-meter hurdles.
‘Corrected to an official time of 48.00, it was still a Big 12, Baylor and Clyde Hart Track and Field Stadium record and ranks second nationally behind defending NCAA champion Chris Robinson of Alabama.’
“I couldn’t control myself, so I jumped up. I was so happy. I’m going to run it very soon, hopefully,” Ezekiel said of breaking into the 47s for the first time.
Nathaniel, a 53.23 runner around this time three years ago, has had a geometrical rise in performance. He improved to 49.89 to close 2021.
The real story then began in 2022, opening the season with 49.13 in March, Nathaniel became the fourth Nigerian to run a sub-49 seconds in the event when he stormed to a 48.42 lifetime best, breaking Henry Amike’s 35 year old Nigerian record of 48.50.
Nathaniel could not speed past 48.42 in the 14 400m hurdles races he ran in 2023 but he has broken his Nigeria record twice this year in just four races.
He first set a new 48.29 best at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitattional in Gainesville, Florida in April before scorching to a 48.00 best just last Saturday.
