Nigerian 400m hurdler Ezekiel Nathaniel has officially graduated from Baylor University, marking the end of a historic collegiate journey that combined academic excellence with record-breaking athletic achievements.
The 22-year-old, who made global headlines throughout the 2025 athletics season for shattering the Nigerian 400m hurdles record multiple times, took to social media on Sunday to share photos from his convocation ceremony.
Captioning his post, “4 years well spent,” Nathaniel reflected on a journey defined by discipline, determination, and consistency both on and off the track.
Ezekiel Nathaniel Celebrated by Fans and Fellow Athletes
The post quickly drew an outpouring of congratulatory messages from fans, teammates, and prominent figures across the athletics world.
World record holder Tobi Amusan led the tributes, commenting:
“Last slide Issa must, congratulations, agba runner.”
Fellow Nigerian athletes joined in the celebration:
- Chidi Okezie: “Congratulations, bro.”
- Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, African shot put record holder: “Congrats, my boy.”
- Obiageri Amaechi, discus thrower: “Congratulations!”
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), coaches Edidiog Udo and Badejo Emmanuel, and American sprinter Trayvon Bromell, the Tokyo 2025 gold medallist, also extended goodwill messages to the rising star.
A Legacy of Excellence at Baylor
During his four-year tenure, Nathaniel established himself as one of Baylor University’s most decorated track athletes. His 2025 season stood out as one of the finest ever by a Nigerian collegiate athlete.
He was named the NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year and was shortlisted for the prestigious Bowerman Award, the highest individual honour in U.S. collegiate athletics, becoming the first Baylor athlete ever to achieve that distinction.
Nathaniel’s dominance in the 400m hurdles was unmatched. He claimed the NCAA title in Eugene, Oregon, and remarkably recorded four of the ten fastest times in NCAA history, a feat no other athlete has accomplished.
He narrowly missed the indoor 400m title, finishing second by just one-hundredth of a second with a time of 45.44 seconds. His 44.74s run at the Big 12 Indoor Championships became the seventh-fastest indoor 400m time in NCAA history and the fifth-fastest overall across both indoor and outdoor events that season.
Nathaniel ended his 2025 collegiate campaign with an 8–1 record in event finals and remained undefeated in the 400m hurdles.
Turning Professional and Breaking Barriers
Following his graduation, Nathaniel signed a professional contract with Swiss sportswear brand On, transitioning seamlessly into the global athletics circuit.
In his debut professional season, he reached multiple Diamond League finals and continued his blistering form, setting a new Nigerian national record in the men’s 400m hurdles for the sixth time at the World Championships in Tokyo, where he finished fourth overall.
The Delta State-born athlete has since cemented his status as one of Africa’s most promising track stars, embodying the next generation of Nigerian athletic excellence.
Looking Ahead
Nathaniel will next be honoured alongside other Bowerman Award finalists at the USTFCCCA Convention on December 18, 2025, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, where the winner of the 2025 Bowerman Award will be officially announced.
