By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-04-13 12:45:04
Former Nigeria track and field international and Olympian Henry Amike is confident that Ezekiel Nathaniel has the talent 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 seconds at the 2024 Tom Jones Memorial Invitational, breaking his own Nigerian record of 48.42 seconds set almost two years ago. This achievement has placed Nathaniel at number 13 on the African all-time list and has positioned him to potentially break the 48-second barrier in the future.
Amike, a World Championships finalist in the event, has been impressed by the rapid improvement of the 20-year-old Nathaniel, who went from a 53.2-second runner in 2021 to setting new records. Amike commended Nathaniel’s hard work and dedication to the sport, emphasizing that success in the 400m hurdles requires more than just talent. Amike, who held the event’s Nigerian record for 35 years with a time of 48.50 seconds, believes that if Nathaniel continues to work hard, he has a strong chance of achieving his goal of breaking the 48-second mark and making history for Nigeria.
While Amike is optimistic about Nathaniel’s potential to succeed, he acknowledges the high level of competition in the 400m hurdles event. Since Kevin Young’s historic performance at the 1992 Olympics, subsequent winners have consistently run sub-48-second races, with Karsten Warholm pushing the boundaries further with a sub-46-second performance in Tokyo 2020. According to Amike, it will take another sub-46-second race to win in Paris and at least a time under 47.15 seconds to secure a podium finish. Despite the tough competition, Amike sees Nathaniel’s progress as a beacon of hope for a potential breakthrough in Paris.
In a separate event, Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi, the reigning African Games javelin throw champion, returned to collegiate competition with a second-place finish at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational. Nnamdi, who recently set a new Nigerian record with an 82.80m throw at the African Games, finished behind Marc Minichello with a throw of 78.90m. Despite high expectations for a victory, Nnamdi’s performance was hindered by foul throws, limiting his chances of success.
Overall, the 2024 Tom Jones Memorial Invitational showcased the talents of Nigerian athletes such as Nathaniel and Nnamdi, who are making strides in their respective events. While Nathaniel aims to break barriers in the 400m hurdles, Nnamdi is working towards further success in the javelin throw discipline. With dedication, hard work, and perseverance, these athletes are poised to make significant contributions to Nigeria’s track and field legacy.
