By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-04-14 04:20:31
Former Nigeria track and field star, Olympian Henry Amike, has high hopes for Nathaniel Ezekiel, believing that he has the potential to make history as the first Nigerian man to run inside 48 seconds in the 400m hurdles. Nathaniel recently ran a new lifetime best of 48.29 at the 2024 Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Florida, breaking his own Nigerian record of 48.42 set almost two years ago. His impressive performance has moved him to number 13 on the African all-time list, and he is on track to potentially break the 48-second barrier in the event.
Speaking to SportsNow.com, Amike praised Ezekiel’s remarkable progress, especially considering that just a year ago, he was running a time of 53.2 in the event. Amike, who held the event’s record for 35 years with a time of 48.50, emphasized the importance of hard work in the demanding 400m hurdles. He believes that with Ezekiel’s work ethic and dedication, he has a real chance of achieving the historic feat of breaking 48 seconds.
Amike is optimistic about Ezekiel’s future, expressing his excitement that the young athlete will be competing at the Olympics. He believes that with continued hard work, Ezekiel can make history in Paris by breaking the 48-second barrier. However, he remains cautious about predicting Ezekiel’s chances of making the podium at the Olympics, citing the high level of competition in the 400m hurdles.
The former Olympian highlighted the tough standards set in the event, pointing out that it has been over two decades since a sub-48-second time was required to win an Olympic gold medal. Karsten Warholm’s groundbreaking performance in Tokyo 2020 with a sub-46-second time (45.94) has further raised the bar for elite competitors in the event. Amike acknowledged that it will take another sub-46-second performance to win in Paris and nothing below 47.15 to secure a podium finish.
Despite the challenges posed by the competitive field, Amike remains hopeful that Ezekiel’s rapid improvement in the event could pave the way for historic achievements in Paris. He reflected on his own dominance in the Nigerian 400m hurdles scene during the 1980s, drawing parallels to Ezekiel’s potential to make a significant impact on the international stage.
In conclusion, Amike’s belief in Nathaniel Ezekiel’s abilities and dedication underscores the young athlete’s potential to break new ground in Nigerian track and field history. With a record-breaking performance at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational, Ezekiel has set himself on a path to achieving unprecedented success in the 400m hurdles, aiming to become the first Nigerian man to break the 48-second barrier and make his mark on the global stage.
