Nigeria’s Nathaniel shines with podium finish at Diamond League Final

Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel, the NCAA 400m hurdles champion and national record holder (47.31s), delivered a brilliant performance on his Diamond League Final debut in Zurich, claiming third place on Thursday.

The 22-year-old crossed the line in 47.56s behind Norway’s world record holder Karsten Warholm, who stormed to victory in a meeting record of 46.70s, and Qatar’s Abdelrahman Samba, who finished second in 47.45s.

Nathaniel’s third-place finish places him among the very few Nigerians to reach the podium in the elite World Athletics one-day series. He also earned \$10,000 in prize money, with the 400m hurdles upgraded to Diamond+ status in Zurich, compared to the regular \$7,000.

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In the men’s 200m, fellow Nigerian Udodi Onwuzurike also made his Diamond League Final debut. The 21-year-old clocked 20.54s to place eighth, capping off an encouraging first season on the circuit.

That race was won by American sprint star Noah Lyles, who surged from lane six in the closing stages to clock 19.74s and clinch his sixth Diamond League trophy. Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana followed closely in 19.76s, while Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic secured third with 20.14s.

The Zurich finale now sets the stage for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September, where Nathaniel, Onwuzurike, and other Nigerian athletes will look to make their mark on the global stage.

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