Umukoro wins 60m silver medalUnited States-based Nigeria 400m runner, Ezekiel Nathaniel, has hinted at what is anticipated of him on the fast-approaching World Indoor Championships, in China.
This he did by enhancing his African file to 44.74 to win the 400m title on the 2025 Massive 12 Championships, held on the TTU Sports activities Efficiency Centre, in Lubbock, Texas, on the weekend.
The victory gave Nathaniel his ticket to the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships, which is holding later this month, in Virginia. He’s anticipated to make the Nigeria 4x400m relay group to the World Indoor Championships, in China.
The Nigerian made historical past final month when he ran 44.92 seconds to turn out to be the primary African man to run inside 45 seconds over the complete lap race indoors, breaking Sunday Bada’s 45.51 African file set on the World Indoor Championships, in 1997, in Paris, France.
The 21-year-old, who specialises within the 400m hurdles out of doors, cemented his primary and historic standing in Africa, in Lubbock as he stays the one African to have run sub-45 seconds within the 400m indoors twice.
The time shouldn’t be solely an African file, but it surely additionally ensures that he stays the second quickest up to now on the earth this 12 months behind USA’s Christopher Bailey, who ran 44.70 final month, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Nathaniel can also be considered one of solely three athletes within the occasion up to now this 12 months to interrupt 45 seconds after Jayden Davis additionally ran 44.95 on the Championships in Lubbock.
Moreover, he has additionally put himself ahead as a possible candidate for the 400m gold medal on the World Indoor Championships later this month in Nanjing, China.
Additionally on the Massive 12 Championships, Success Umukoro (7.19) misplaced the 60m title by the narrowest of margins to Indya Mayberry (7.18).
Within the 60m hurdles, Adaobi Tabugo was additionally second, working inside eight seconds (7.99) for the primary time in her profession.
The time strikes her to fifth within the Nigerian all-time listing behind Tobi Amusan (7.75), Glory Alozie (7.82), Josephine Onyia (7.88) and Taiwo Aladefa (7.95).
She additionally turns into the seventh African lady to interrupt eight seconds over the occasion.
In the meantime, Israel Okon failed to meet expectations within the 60m occasion on the Southeastern Convention (SEC) Championships on the Faculty Station, in Texas on the weekend, working 6.55 seconds to complete second behind Jordan Anthony.
Okon had raised hopes of a attainable first-place end within the competitors on his first try with an unbelievable 6.51-second run within the warmth.
Adekalu Fakorede ran a brand new 6.56 lifetime finest to complete fourth whereas Kanyinsola Ajayi false began. Like Okon, Tima Godbless additionally didn’t ship one other world-class efficiency like she did final month when she scorched right into a 7.08 lifetime finest to maneuver into the Nigerian all-time high 10 listing.
On Saturday, Godbless may solely run 7.22 to complete fourth. Within the girls’s 400m, Ella Onojuvewevwo was disqualified after false beginning.
