Ezekiel Nathaniel Breaks African 400m Indoor Record Again in Historic Run

Ezekiel Nathaniel has once again rewritten history, setting a new African 400m indoor record with a blistering 44.74 seconds at the 2025 Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championship in Lubbock, Texas. The 21-year-old Nigerian, who made history two weeks ago as the first African to break the 45-second barrier indoors with a 44.92s run, delivered yet another sensational performance, further lowering his own record.

Nathaniel, running in a timed final alongside Arizona State’s Jayden Davis, controlled the race from the outset. A commanding 21.09s opening lap put him in the lead, and he maintained his composure through the final stretch, fending off fatigue and competition to claim gold. Davis finished second in 44.95s.

Beyond his individual triumph, Nathaniel anchored Baylor University’s 4x400m relay team to its 17th Big 12 title, sealing victory in 3:04.78. His record-breaking performance now places him as the eighth-fastest indoor 400m runner in history, sixth in NCAA records, and the meet’s fastest ever.

With this momentum, the Nigerian star is set to compete at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships (March 14-15) in Virginia Beach before representing his country at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, later in March.

Nathaniel’s journey from Ijebu Ode’s Buka Tigers Athletics Club to the global stage has been nothing short of remarkable. After a breakthrough fourth-place finish at the 2021 World U-20 Championships in Nairobi, he earned a scholarship to Baylor University, where he has continued to shatter records. In 2022, he broke Nigeria’s 34-year-old 400m hurdles record, clocking 48.42s before lowering it to 48.00s in 2024. His rapid rise also saw him reach the semifinals of the World Championships in 2022 and 2023, as well as the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Now, with his sights set on further global success, Nathaniel’s performances signal a new era for Nigerian Long Distance  athletics on the world stage.