By Ado Salisu, Kano
Nigeria’s top 400m hurdlers will have more than bragging rights to chase at the Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet, with Commonwealth Games champion Nathaniel Ezekiel putting an extra ₦250,000 up for grabs for anyone who finishes the race in under 51 seconds.
Ezekiel, the Nigerian national record holder, is backing the men’s 400m hurdles with a total prize allocation of ₦500,000 for the top eight finishers, while the additional performance bonus could take the available rewards to ₦750,000.
The event, to be staged as the Nathaniel Ezekiel 400m Hurdles Showdown, will form part of the anniversary meet on November 7, 2026, at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos.
The bonus adds a compelling challenge to the race. Athletes will not only be competing for positions and prize money but will also have a specific time target to pursue, with a sub-51-second performance earning the extra reward.
By throwing his support behind the event, Ezekiel is using his standing in Nigerian athletics to encourage competition and give fellow athletes an opportunity to benefit financially from their performances.
He also praised Athletic Heat for sustaining its contribution to athletics over the past decade and urged athletes who are yet to sign up to register ahead of the competition. He wished all participants success as they prepare for the meet.
Athletic Heat CEO Ese Oguma welcomed the hurdler’s contribution, saying the support from an athlete competing at the highest level would mean a great deal to the next generation.
Oguma particularly highlighted the additional bonus, noting that it gives competitors another objective to pursue while adding excitement to the anniversary programme.
He thanked Ezekiel for believing in Athletic Heat’s vision and supporting its efforts to create more opportunities for Nigerian athletes.
The November 7 meet will mark a decade of Athletic Heat’s activities, bringing athletes together in Lagos for a celebration of track and field talent.
With Ezekiel’s sponsorship, the men’s 400m hurdles now has an added incentive: finish among the top eight to claim a share of ₦500,000, or break 51 seconds to earn an additional ₦250,000.
