Nathaniel’s New 48.29 Lifetime Best Thrills Amike

FORMER

Nigeria track and field star, Olympian Henry Amike, believes Nathaniel Ezekiel has proved he has the talent to make history as the first

Nigerian man to run inside 48 seconds in the 400m hurdles.

Nathaniel ran a new 48.29 lifetime best at the 2024 Tom Jones Memorial Invitational on the Percy Beard Track at the James G. Pressly Stadium in Florida on Friday evening to break the 48.42 Nigerian record he set almost two years ago at the Big 12 Championships in Lubbock, Texas.

With that achievement, Nathaniel has moved to number 13 on the African alltime list and could become the first Nigerian to break 48 seconds in the event.

Amike, a World Championships’ finalist in the event told Sportsnow. com that he is impressed with the incredible rise of the 20- year- old, who around this time in 2021, was just a 53.2 runner.

“I have been monitoring Ezekiel’s performance and I am quite impressed with the hardwork he has put in to become the Nigerian record holder in the event. I know he must have put in a lot of hardwork because the 400m hurdles is very demanding. It is not enough to have the talent,’ said Amike who held the event’s record ( 48.50) for 35 years.

Amike is confident Nathaniel will become the first Nigerian man to break 48 seconds in the event if he continues to work very hard.

“I am happy he is finally going to the Olympics and I believe, with more hardwork, he can make that history in Paris,’ added Amike who ran twice in the final of the event at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

Amike, would, however, not be drawn on Nathaniel’s chances of becoming the first Nigerian man to make the podium in the event at the Olympics.

“The standard is very high in the 400m hurdles. Since Kevin Young ran 46.78 to win at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics, subsequent winners have ran a sub- 48 seconds until Karsten Warholm took it to another level in Tokyo 2020 with the event’s first sub- 46 seconds performance ( 45.94).

“It will take another sub- 46 seconds to win in Paris and nothing below 47.15 to get to the podium. It is tough but Ezekiel’s geometric rise in the event could be that glimmer of hope that history can be made on two fronts in Paris,’ said Amike who dominated the Nigerian 400m hurdles scene like a colossus in the 1980s.