Nigeria’s Nathaniel Ezekiel Named Finalist for 2025 Bowerman Award

Nigerian hurdler Nathaniel Ezekiel has been shortlisted as one of three finalists for the 2025 Bowerman Award — the highest individual honour in U.S. collegiate track and field — according to Sport360NG.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) unveiled the final three nominees on Tuesday evening, with Ezekiel joining Arkansas sprinter Jordan Anthony and Auburn’s Ja’Kobe Tharp in the race for the coveted prize.

Ezekiel, a standout athlete for Baylor University, enjoyed a phenomenal season across both indoor and outdoor competitions. The Delta State-born star capped his campaign with a dominant performance at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he clinched the 400m hurdles title in 47.49 seconds — the third-fastest time in collegiate history, trailing only Rai Benjamin and Caleb Dean, both former Bowerman finalists.

Just two days earlier, he had clocked a personal best of 47.86s in the semi-finals, underlining his consistency and form.

Remarkably, Ezekiel recorded four of the ten fastest times ever in NCAA 400m hurdles history over the course of the season — a feat no other collegiate athlete has achieved.

His indoor performances were equally impressive. He narrowly missed gold in the 400m at the NCAA Indoor Championships, finishing second by just 0.01 seconds with a time of 45.44s. His 44.74s run at the Big 12 Indoor Championships placed him seventh on the all-time indoor 400m list and ranked as the fifth-best time of the year when combining indoor and outdoor marks.

Ezekiel ended the season with an 8–1 record in collegiate event finals, going undefeated in the 400m hurdles and securing two wins in the outdoor 400m.

With his nomination, the 22-year-old becomes the first Baylor athlete to ever reach the final stage of The Bowerman selection, marking a historic achievement for the university’s track and field programme.

Named after legendary Oregon coach Bill Bowerman, the award has been presented annually since 2009 and is widely regarded as the track and field equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

The 2025 winner will be determined through a combination of votes from coaches, media, past recipients, and the public. Fan voting opened Tuesday and will remain open until Thursday, July 10.

All three finalists will be celebrated on Thursday, December 18, at the USTFCCCA Convention held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, where the winner will officially be announced.