Ezekiel Nathaniel has set a new Nigerian record after running a blistering 47.31 seconds to finish second in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Diamond League in Silesia, Poland.
The 22-year-old clocked a personal best to lower his own national record, pushing Olympic champion and world record holder Karsten Warholm, who won with a world-leading time of 46.28 seconds. Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba finished third in 47.34 seconds.
Nathaniel has now broken national marks seven times this season five in the 400m hurdles and twice indoors.
Ezekiel Nathaniel during his time at Baylor University. Photo Credit: X
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In March, he ran an African indoor record of 44.74 seconds at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships in Texas, placing him eighth on the world all-time list.
Ezekiel Nathaniel. Photo Credit: X
He continued his rise by winning the NCAA Outdoor Championships title in Oregon in June with 47.49s and was later named men’s track athlete of the year at the NCAA Division I awards.
Earlier this summer, he also finished third at the Prefontaine Classic behind Alison Dos Santos and Rai Benjamin.
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Nathaniel, who went professional this season after signing with Swiss sports brand On, he represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics, reaching the 400m hurdles semi-finals and competing in the 4x400m relay.
