Nathaniel Ezekiel, hailing from Nigeria, has been honoured as the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year. This award crowns an exceptional season for him at Baylor University and is considered among the highest distinctions in American collegiate athletics, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra.
The recognition was declared by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association following a voting process by NCAA coaches on Monday. Ezekiel now stands as only the second athlete in Baylor’s history to achieve this award, joining Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner, who last earned the title in 2004.
Born in Delta State, Ezekiel claimed the men’s 400m hurdles crown at the NCAA Outdoor Championships held in Eugene, Oregon earlier this month, setting a new personal record of 47.49 seconds.
His winning effort not only earned him the championship medal but also ranked him third on the all-time collegiate list for the 400m hurdles.
During the 2025 season, Ezekiel made history by becoming the only collegiate athlete to register multiple top-ten all-time performances in the 400m hurdles in a single season.
While “multiple” often means two, Ezekiel accomplished this feat four times, underscoring his extraordinary calibre on the track throughout the year.
This award adds to the impressive accomplishments Ezekiel has amassed in 2025.
At the start of the year, he broke the African indoor 400m record with a 44.74-second run at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships in Texas, earning him the eighth spot on the global all-time rankings for the event.
His NCAA final victory capped off a season full of commanding performances, which included successfully defending his Big 12 Conference title with a new championship record of 47.89 seconds.
Ezekiel’s consistent high-level performance also secured him a finalist position for The Bowerman, the most prestigious individual honour in US collegiate track and field.
The award, named after legendary Oregon coach Bill Bowerman, recognises the best male and female athletes based solely on their performances during the indoor and outdoor seasons. The final winner will be announced in December following a vote by a panel comprising coaches, media, statisticians, and fans.
Besides Ezekiel, the NCAA also recognised other standout athletes and coaches in its year-end awards.
Jamaica’s Ralford Mullings was named National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year following a record-breaking discus performance, while Michigan’s Savannah Sutherland earned the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year after setting a new collegiate record in the 400m hurdles.
The top coaching awards were presented to Quincy Watts of Southern California and Caryl Smith Gilbert of Georgia for leading their teams to national championships.
