Nigerian athlete Ezekiel Nathaniel has set a new national record in the men’s 400 metres hurdles, finishing fourth in the final at the ongoing athletics meet in Tokyo.
Nathaniel, who clocked an impressive 47.50 seconds, shattered his own previous national record to cement his place as Nigeria’s fastest-ever 400m hurdler. Despite narrowly missing out on a medal, his performance drew praise from athletics enthusiasts and officials.
Speaking after the race, Nathaniel expressed pride in his achievement but admitted he had hoped for a podium finish.
“I gave it everything on the track. Breaking the Nigerian record again is a blessing, but I know I can do even better. This is only the beginning,” he said.
The race was one of the most competitive of the championship, featuring some of the world’s top hurdlers. Nathaniel kept pace throughout, surging strongly in the final stretch before settling for fourth place.
Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) officials hailed his performance as a major boost for Nigerian track and field. “Ezekiel Nathaniel has shown that Nigeria can compete at the highest level. Breaking the national record on such a big stage is proof of his world-class potential,” an AFN spokesperson noted.
Sports analysts believe the 21-year-old hurdler has firmly established himself as one of Nigeria’s brightest medal prospects ahead of the 2027 World Championships and the next Olympic Games.
Nathaniel’s record-breaking run adds to Nigeria’s growing list of track and field achievements in recent years, inspiring a new generation of athletes to aim higher on the global stage.
