Nathaniel Ezekiel set a new 400m indoor record at the 2025 Big 12 Championship, also leading his team to a 4x400m relay victory. Nigeria’s Temitope Adeshina defended her high jump title, while Kenya’s Laban Kipkemboi won gold in the mile race.

The 2025 Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championship delivered a series of electrifying performances, with Nigeria’s Nathaniel Ezekiel making headlines by breaking the 400m indoor record for the second time in two weeks.

Ezekiel set a new meet record, improving his NCAA-leading time to an impressive 44.74 seconds in the 400m.

“Nathaniel Ezekiel set a meet record and bested his NCAA-leading mark this season to 44.74 seconds. Ezekiel would later anchor the men’s 4x400 relay team to its 17th overall Big 12 title, finishing with a time of 3:04.78,” the organizers stated in a press release.

Ezekiel Nathaniel also holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian athlete in 12 years to reach the semifinals of the 400m Hurdles at an Olympic event (Paris 2024). The last Nigerian to achieve this feat was Amaechi Morton at the London 2012 Olympics.

Other African athletes also shined at the 2025 Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championship. Nigeria's Temitope Adeshina successfully defended her high jump title in a dramatic jump-off, clearing 1.90 meters. Kenya's Laban Kipkemboi further contributed to Africa's success by clinching gold in the mile race with a time of 4:08.63.