Nathaniel Ezekiel opens 2025 season in storming fashion, runs 45.56 in 400m
Baylor University student-athlete Ezekiel Nathaniel opened his 2025 indoor season in a scorching fashion after speeding to a 45.56 finish in the 400m event at the DeLoss Dodds Invitational in Manhattan, Kansas.
The time, a meeting record, is the second fastest in the world so far this year after the 45.27 Canada’s Christopher Morales-Williams ran last week at College Station in Texas.
The time is the fastest by a Nigerian so far this year, supplanting the 45.61 Edidiong Udo ran in Lubbock a day earlier in Lubbock, Texas.
It is also Nathaniel’s second fastest time over the distance after the 45.54 he ran last year to move second behind Sunday Bada (45.51) in the Nigerian and African all-time list.
Nathaniel is likely to spearhead Nigeria’s chase for a medal at the World indoor championships in Nanjing, China.
With reigning African Games 400m champion, Chidi Okezie (46.54) also impressing in the circuit so fat this season, Nigeria could present a formidable 4x400m team in Nanjing.
