Ogazi joins Nathaniel with second sub-45 seconds performance of 2025
Nigeria to have at least two sub-45 seconds runners for the second straight year and third time since 1996
For the second year in a row, Nigeria will have at least two men who have broken 45 seconds in the 400m event after Paris 2024 Olympics finalist, Samuel Ogazi stormed to a 44.98 finish to win at the Tigers Classic at the Auburn University in Alabama.
Ogazi’s time broke the Hutsell-Rosen Track facility at the Auburn University and moves up as the fourth-fastest time in the USA so far this year.
The 18 year old made history last year as the first Nigerian to run in the final of the event at the Olympics since Innocent Egbunike last did in 1988.
He also moved third behind Egbunike and the late Sunday Bada (12) as the Nigerian with the most sub-45 seconds runs (six) in history. He has now made it seven since his breakout season in 2024.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel Ezekiel, who ran 44.74 indoors last month has finally broken 45 seconds outdoor and he did it in a spectacular fashion.
The Nigeria 400m indoor and 400m hurdles record holder clocked 44.75 in his outdoor season debut in the event. He has now entered Baylor University’s historic Quarter-Mile U top-10 programme marks, tied for ninth.
Ezekiel is the first Baylor Bear to crack in the top-10 marks since Wil London in 2017.
Like last year, Nigeria can now boast of at least two sub-45 seconds performer this year.
It was the duo of Ogazi and Chidi Okezie that first repeated that history since the duo of Jude Monye (44.83) and Sunday Bada (44.88) last did in 1996.
