Nigerian track sensation Nathaniel Ezekiel has been named a semifinalist for the prestigious Bowerman Award, capping off a historic collegiate career at Baylor University with one of the top individual honours in U.S. college athletics.
The Bowerman, often described as the Heisman Trophy of American track and field, is awarded annually to the top male and female collegiate athletes in the sport. Ezekiel becomes just the third athlete in Baylor history to be named a semifinalist, following in the footsteps of KC Lightfoot in 2021 and Trayvon Bromell, who earned the honour in both 2014 and 2015.
Ezekiel’s senior season was nothing short of extraordinary. At the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships, the 21-year-old Nigerian blazed to a 47.49 finish in the 400m hurdles — a personal best that secured him the national title and now ranks as the third-fastest time in NCAA history.
That performance also made him the first Baylor athlete to win the 400m hurdles crown since Bayano Kamani in 2001, and only the third in program history.
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Over the course of his NCAA career, Ezekiel built a resume that places him among the greatest Nigerian athletes in collegiate track history.
He is a nine-time All-American across both indoor and outdoor seasons, the 2025 USTFCCCA Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, and was named Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor Athlete of the Year. He departs Baylor as the school record holder in the 400m hurdles, the indoor 400m, and as a vital member of the record-setting 4x400m indoor relay team.
In addition to those accolades, Ezekiel made NCAA history by becoming the only athlete to register four all-time top ten performances in the 400m hurdles — a feat unmatched by any of his peers.
His consistency throughout the 2025 season earned him a spot on the Bowerman Watchlist longer than any other semifinalist, apart from North Carolina’s Ethan Strand. That consistency, along with his ability to deliver on the biggest stages, made him an undeniable contender for the award.
Joining Ezekiel as Bowerman men’s semifinalists this year are Mykolas Alekna of California, Jordan Anthony of Arkansas, James Corrigan of BYU, Ishmael Kipkurui of New Mexico, Carlie Makarawu of Kentucky, Ralford Mullings of Oklahoma, Brian Musau of Oklahoma State, Ethan Strand of North Carolina, and Ja’Kobe Tharp of Auburn.
Finalists for the 2025 Bowerman Award will be announced on Tuesday, July 8, with fan voting running from July 8 to 10. The winners will be revealed at the USTFCCCA Convention in Grapevine, Texas, on December 18.
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