Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel opened his 2026 outdoor season with victory in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Lone Star Grand Prix in Texas on Saturday.
Nathaniel clocked 47.37 seconds to edge American Trevor Bassitt in a dramatic photo finish, with both athletes returning the same time after a thrilling battle to the line.
Another American, Caleb Dean, finished third in 47.42s as just 0.05 seconds separated the top three athletes.
The race was decided by the finest of margins, with Nathaniel producing a strong lean at the finish to secure the win after officials reviewed the photo finish.
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It was an encouraging start to the season for the Nigerian record holder, who was competing in his first 400m hurdles race of the year.
The 22-year-old has established himself as one of Nigeria’s leading track athletes in recent years, becoming the first Nigerian to break the 48-second barrier in the event and winning multiple NCAA titles while representing Baylor University in the United States.
His victory over a quality field that included World Championships medallist Bassitt and highly rated Dean will provide further confidence as he builds towards the major championships later this season.
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