In a remarkable display of athletic prowess, Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel has made history by qualifying for the final of the men’s 400 metres hurdles at the ongoing World Athletics Championships (WAC) in Tokyo.
Nathaniel’s achievement marked the first time a Nigerian man has reached this stage after Henry Amike recorded the feat in 1985, a gap of 38 years since the championships were held in Rome, Italy.
The 22-year-old reigning NCAA champion showcased his exceptional talent on Wednesday, finishing the second of three semifinal heats with a time of 47.47 seconds.
This impressive performance solidified Ezekiel’s growing reputation in the sport, as he now aims to become the first Nigerian and the fifth African athlete to stand on the podium at the World Championships.
In a commanding run, Ezekiel led the race from the outset, leaving his competitors trailing in his wake. Qatar’s Ismail Doudai Abakar followed closely behind, securing second place with a personal best of 47.61 seconds, while American athlete Caleb Dean finished third in 47.85 seconds.
The race also featured strong finishes from Jamaica’s Malik James-King in fourth, Brazil’s Matheus Lima in fifth, Kenya’s Wiseman Were Mukhobe in sixth, Sweden’s Oskar Edlund in seventh, and Spain’s Jesús David Delgado in eighth positions.
Nathaniel had already made a significant impact in the heats, where he recorded a 48.37 seconds, again finishing ahead of Dean and Brazil’s Francisco Dos Reis Viana.
His semifinal triumph further establishes him as a key contender as he prepares for the final, scheduled for Friday, September 19.
