Umukoro wins 60m silver medal
United States-based Nigeria 400m runner, Ezekiel Nathaniel, has hinted at what is expected of him at the fast-approaching World Indoor Championships, in China.

This he did by improving his African record to 44.74 to win the 400m title at the 2025 Big 12 Championships, held at the TTU Sports Performance Centre, in Lubbock, Texas, at the weekend.

The victory gave Nathaniel his ticket to the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships, which is holding later this month, in Virginia. He is expected to make the Nigeria 4x400m relay team to the World Indoor Championships, in China.

The Nigerian made history last month when he ran 44.92 seconds to become the first African man to run inside 45 seconds over the full lap race indoors, breaking Sunday Bada’s 45.51 African record set at the World Indoor Championships, in 1997, in Paris, France.

The 21-year-old, who specialises in the 400m hurdles outdoor, cemented his number one and historic status in Africa, in Lubbock as he remains the only African to have run sub-45 seconds in the 400m indoors twice.

The time is not only an African record, but it also ensures that he remains the second fastest so far in the world this year behind USA’s Christopher Bailey, who ran 44.70 last month, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Nathaniel is also one of only three athletes in the event so far this year to break 45 seconds after Jayden Davis also ran 44.95 at the Championships in Lubbock.

Additionally, he has also put himself forward as a potential candidate for the 400m gold medal at the World Indoor Championships later this month in Nanjing, China.

Also at the Big 12 Championships, Success Umukoro (7.19) lost the 60m title by the narrowest of margins to Indya Mayberry (7.18).

In the 60m hurdles, Adaobi Tabugo was also second, running inside eight seconds (7.99) for the first time in her career.

The time moves her to fifth in the Nigerian all-time list behind Tobi Amusan (7.75), Glory Alozie (7.82), Josephine Onyia (7.88) and Taiwo Aladefa (7.95).

She also becomes the seventh African woman to break eight seconds over the event.

Meanwhile, Israel Okon failed to fulfill expectations in the 60m event at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championships at the College Station, in Texas at the weekend, running 6.55 seconds to finish second behind Jordan Anthony.

Okon had raised hopes of a possible first-place finish in the competition on his first attempt with an incredible 6.51-second run in the heat.

Adekalu Fakorede ran a new 6.56 lifetime best to finish fourth while Kanyinsola Ajayi false started. Like Okon, Tima Godbless also failed to deliver another world-class performance like she did last month when she scorched into a 7.08 lifetime best to move into the Nigerian all-time top 10 list.

On Saturday, Godbless could only run 7.22 to finish fourth. In the women’s 400m, Ella Onojuvewevwo was disqualified after false starting.