Nigeria’s Nathaniel Ezekiel has been named the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year to cap off a dominant collegiate season with Baylor University which has now earned him one of the most prestigious honours in American college athletics.
The honour was announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association following a vote by NCAA member coaches on Monday.
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Ezekiel becomes only the second athlete in Baylor’s history to receive the award, joining Olympic gold medallist Jeremy Wariner who last won it in 2004.
The Delta State-born athlete won the national title in the men’s 400m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon earlier this month, clocking a personal record of 47.49s.
The performance not only earned the gold medal but also placed him third on the all-time collegiate list in the event’s history.
His 2025 campaign also made him the only athlete in collegiate history to post multiple top-ten all-time marks in the 400m hurdles within a single season.
While “multiple” typically means two, Ezekiel achieved the feat four times, which further underlines his elite level on the track this year.
This accolade adds to a growing list of achievements for Ezekiel in 2025.
Ezekiel will begin his professional career on July 31-August 3 in the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, vying for a spot in the World Championships in Tokyo.