Nathaniel Ezekiel: ‘I feel like the whole season, I’ve actually been competing against myself’

Nathaniel Ezekiel capped off his dominant collegiate career with a stunning victory in the 400-meter hurdles final at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene. The Baylor senior, who hadn’t lost a race since last summer’s Paris Olympics, faced his toughest challenge yet when Texas A&M’s Ja’Qualon Scott pushed him down the stretch.

‘I feel like the whole season, I’ve actually been competing against myself,” Ezekiel admitted in an interview on Baylor University website. But when Scott applied pressure in the final 100 meters, the Nigerian Olympian responded emphatically.

“That was pretty cool,” he said after pulling away to clock a school-record 47.49 seconds, the third-fastest time in NCAA history and fourth-fastest in the world this year.

Baylor head coach Michael Ford praised Ezekiel’s execution, noting, ‘I thought those first six hurdles, he set it up like he wanted to. I think he had a small little issue on hurdle eight… but then he cleaned up hurdle nine.’

Ford has guided Ezekiel throughout his collegiate journey and encouraged him before the final: “Just execute like you’ve been doing all year. You’re the only one that has run under 48 this year.”

The newly crowned national champion was thrilled with his triumph, saying, “I didn’t get it indoors, but I said to myself, ‘I’m going to do my best to bring it home in the outdoors.’ And I did. I should say God did, and I’m grateful.”

Ezekiel, a nine-time All-American, will now turn pro and set his sights on upcoming international competitions, including the World Championships in Tokyo.

His world ranking recently shifted after Olympic gold medalist Raj Benjamin and Brazilian standout Alison dos Santos both dipped under 47 seconds.

“It’s pretty amazing to run a fast time, 47.49, in my last race being a Baylor Bear,” Ezekiel reflected. “Obviously, I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve put that into practice. I consider myself a professional athlete, and I have the mindset to do something better.”