On Tuesday afternoon (June 11), Hayward Field in Eugene was buzzing with anticipation as fans packed the stands for the men’s 400m hurdles semifinal at the NCAA Track and Field Championships. With big names on the start list and national records on the line, expectations were sky high. But few could have predicted what came next. All eyes were on 21-year-old Baylor standout, a rising star who had already rewritten the Nigerian record books twice this season. As the athletes settled into their blocks, there was a collective sense of something big about to unfold. When the gun fired, it did something unbelievable.

From the very first strides, it was clear: this wasn’t going to be a race for first place—it was a race for second. Ezekiel Nathaniel exploded out of the blocks with a dominance that left fans gasping and competitors scrambling. As the commentator put it: “And they’re away cleanly. This time, it’s easy to see who’s in the lead. Whoever goes over the hurdle first, that’s who’s leading. Ezekiel. It’s out quickly, followed closely by Johnny Brackins, a bit behind, seems to be having a little bit of step issues as well. It took Xzaviah Taylor about 100 meters to really get going, but just look at him now, tear away from this field. Nathaniel Ezekiel, the senior from Baylor, is all by himself.” And indeed, he was.

Nathaniel stopped the clock at 47.86 seconds—not just a personal best, but the fastest semifinal time in NCAA history, and the first-ever sub-48 in an NCAA semifinal. His performance was so commanding that second-place finisher Johnny Brackins crossed the line in 50.14—a full second behind, an eternity in this event. That margin wasn’t lost on fans. One took to X (formerly Twitter) to say what everyone was thinking: “UT athlete finished 2nd time wise a second behind which is an eternity in these races. Ezekiel looks untouchable.”

With that race, Ezekiel Nathaniel didn’t just make a statement—he made history. The Baylor senior now holds the 7th, 8th, and 9th fastest 400m hurdles times in NCAA history, clocking 47.90, 47.89, and now 47.86, all in the same season. Each performance has not only smashed the Nigerian national record but also elevated him to a new level of dominance. But this wasn’t a sudden rise. 

This week’s NCAA Championships mark Ezekiel’s fourth straight appearance on the biggest collegiate stage. As a freshman in 2022, he finished fourth. In 2023 and 2024, he stepped onto the podium with back-to-back bronze medals. Earlier this year, he was placed second in the flat 400m at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Every season, he’s climbed higher—sharpening his edge, building his legacy.

Now, in his final year at Baylor, he’s chasing the one prize that has eluded him: the NCAA outdoor title. And he’s doing it in style. With seven Big 12 titles and multiple All-American honors to his name, Nathaniel entered Eugene as a contender. He walked off the track on Tuesday as the world leader in the 400m hurdles, and the first athlete in NCAA history to dip under 48 seconds in a semifinal. A feat that left fans stunned and rivals in the dust.

The grand finale is now set for Saturday, June 14. All eyes will be on the track. Can Ezekiel seal the deal? Can he deliver one more electrifying run and bring home the NCAA crown that’s long been in reach?

Track and field fans predict threats for the big three 

Ezekiel Nathaniel is no stranger to the spotlight. The Nigerian 400m hurdles star, who proudly represented his country at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has been on a relentless rise since arriving at Baylor University in 2021. Alongside fellow Nigerian standouts Imaobong Uko and Chinecherem “Zaza” Nnamdi, Nathaniel has helped turn Baylor’s track and field program into a powerhouse—and on Wednesday in Eugene, he delivered yet another unforgettable performance. The race wasn’t just fast—it was jaw-dropping.

Blazing through the 400m hurdles semifinal in 47.86 seconds, Ezekiel didn’t just cross the line first—he dominated it. It wasn’t even close. His nearest competitor, Johnny Brackins, was nearly a full second behind—a margin that’s almost unheard of in elite hurdles. For track fans, that kind of gap in an NCAA championship is the stuff of legend. One fan posted on X: “Hurdles hard normally, imagine to dey run am for 400M and still dey break record. All hail.” Another couldn’t believe the margin: “Crazy to gap a field like this in NCAAs.” But here’s where things get really interesting.

Thousands of miles away in Oslo, three of the sport’s biggest stars—Karsten Warholm, Rai Benjamin, and Alison dos Santos—posed together at the Bislett Games press conference, gearing up for their own Diamond League showdown. The image of the “Big Three” together had track fans buzzing—but so did Nathaniel’s time. Now, some are wondering if a new name belongs in that conversation.

“Nathaniel Ezekiel 47.86s!!! The biggest threat to the big three right now,” one track and field fan posted. Another went even further: “He got on the wrong flight. He should be in Oslo right now not Eugene.” At just 21 years old, Ezekiel is sending a clear message—not just to the NCAA, but to the world stage. With each record, he’s not just closing the gap on the sport’s elite—he’s forcing his way into the spotlight. And if this was just the semifinal… Saturday’s final could be a game-changer.