Nathaniel Ezekiel put the universe on alert after blistering run to win the second Semifinal of the men’s 400 meters hurdles at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships.
After two consecutive semi-final heartbreaks the Nigerian hurdler finally broke through, storming to victory with the fastest time of 47.47secs today at the National Stadium in Japan.
Qatar’s Ismail Abakar finished second with a Personal Best of 47.61secs, while Caleb Dean of the USA placed 3rd in 47.85secs.
Nathaniel’s effort makes him the first Nigerian, since 1987 after Heny Amike, to qualify for the event’s final at World Championships.
Elsewhere Udodi Onwuzurike of Nigeria qualified for the Semifinals of the men’s 200m after winning his heat today with a time of 20.27secs.
Both the men’s 400m hurdles final and 200m semi finals will come up tomorrow.
Written by Kelechi Bernard