NCAA Indoor Championships: Ezekiel Nathaniel narrowly misses history-making moment in 400m final

Funmilayo Fameso 14:30 - 16 March 2025

Ezekiel Nathaniel set a new 400mH Nigerian record at the NCAA Championships

Ezekiel Nathaniel had a heartbreaking loss in the men's 400m final at the NCAA Indoor Championships, thus stopping his chance at making history.

In an unexpected twist in the men's 400m final at the NCAA Indoor Championships, pre-race favourite Ezekiel Nathaniel's unbeaten streak came to an end after being beaten by Georgia's Will Floyd.

The 21-year-old Baylor University junior with the fastest time (44.74s) in the NCAA so far this season was gunning to be the first Nigerian student-athlete in collegiate history to win the 400m title.

Ezekiel Nathaniel is Nigeria and Africa's 400m indoor record holder

Unfortunately, he couldn't respond to Floyd's start and technical race management as the Georgian student, led from the start to finish line, holding off Nathaniel for the NCAA Indoors men's 400m win in 45.43s to 45.44s. Texas A&M's Auhmad Robinson settled for third in 45.54s.

At. The. Line.

Nathaniel Ezekiel races for 45.44, just 0.01 seconds behind the Georgia leader to earn silver at the NCAA Indoor 400m finals!#SicEm 🐻 pic.twitter.com/LCS9C0ox0R
— Baylor Track & Field (@BaylorTrack) March 15, 2025

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Nathaniel will take solace in the fact that he had a record-breaking indoor season and can now shift his focus outdoors, where he'll be gunning for the NCAA 400m and 400mH titles, clock more jaw-dropping times, and make the Nigerian team to the Tokyo World Championships in September.