Ezekiel Nathaniel makes statement run with new Nigerian Record in Silesia

At this point in Nigerian Athletics, there are only three constants: Death, Taxes, and Ezekiel Nathaniel breaking his 400mH national record.

At the Silesia Diamond League, the rising hurdling star made a statement run, clocking a brilliant new Personal Best (PB) and Nigerian Record of 47.31s for second, edging 2019 world championships bronze medallist Abderrahman Samba, who finished third in 47.34s.

After a two-month break from the racing circuit, world record holder Karsten Warholm returned to action in stunning form, storming to the win in a new outstanding Diamond League Record of 46.28s.

The time is the fastest in the world since he set the world record of 45.94s to win the Olympic gold at Tokyo 2021. It is also the third fastest in history behind Rai Benjamin's 46.17s.

For Nathaniel, his performance was another testament to the fact that his college standout record-breaking runs were no fluke, and he's indeed a potential medallist at the World Championships in Tokyo next month.

Consequently, he's a rising star to keep an eye on in the next few years, and is well-talented to dominate the event with the right coaching and experience.

Nathaniel led a trio of Nigerian top athletes that made good marks at the Silesia Diamond League, as Tobi Amusan also got a third-place finish in the women's 100mH clocking a blistering 12.25s, while Chukwuebuka Enekwechi was seventh in the men's shot put, throwing a distance of 21.56m.