Fast-rising Nigerian athlete, Ezekiel Nathaniel set social media abuzz by winning the men’s 400m hurdles race with a photo finish at the USATF Lone Star Grand Prix in College Station.
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Sports247 reports that the race was so tight that Nigerian athletics lovers hit the internet in a frenzy right after and reeled out various shades of superlatives and accolades for Nathaniel.
While Nathaniel awed athletics followers with his feat in USA’s first World Athletics Continental Tour Gold gathering of 2026, Nigerian-born female hurdler, Kemi Adekoya won the women’s race in Bahrain’s colours.
Nathaniel, the fourth-place finisher at last year’s World Championships, prevailed in a thrilling men’s 400m hurdles event, which he won by edging Trevor Bassitt by the narrowest of margins, though Caleb Dean led through the first 300 metres.
Bassitt began to challenge coming into the home straight, while Nathaniel also burst through strongly, and they both crossed the line together in 47.37secs, but the Nigerian ace won it by two thousandths of a second, while Dean got 47.42s.
In the women’s version, Adekoya led throughout to win in 53.71s, while Shamier Little mounted a challenge to finish third in 54.15s, as Zimbabwe’s Ashley Miller came through to take second in 54.08s, improving her own national record by 1.01.
Sports247 reports further that Nathaniel’s feat was trailed by a buzz of reactions on social media, as Making of Champions set the ball rolling by posting: “First 400m Hurdles of the season, first win for Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel 🙌.
“Nathaniel secured a narrow victory over Trevor Bassit in the men’s 400m Hurdles at the Lone star Grand Prix, edging out the American to win a very tight race. Both athletes ran an identical 47.37s, but it was Nathaniel who was adjudged winner.”
Anengiyefa Alagoa added, “I saw immediately that Nathaniel had won this race. I didn’t even know what the uncertainty was about;” and Mary Onyali Mfr Oly chipped in, “Woooh…. that’s a Hairline win. Congratulations Nath 🇳🇬💃.”
A post by Okwu Enuani Culture read, “From the photo how the naija guy they win cos is like the white guy cross the line with his head ooo;” while Callum Ndubuisi Abel stated, “Culture photo finish dey measure which person shoulder first cross line.”
