N750,000 Prize for 400m Hurdles at Athletic Heat Meet

Commonwealth Games champion, Nathaniel Ezekiel, has announced a N750,000 prize for the men’s 400m hurdles at the Athletic Heat 10th anniversary meet in Lagos on November 7.

This prize includes a N250,000 bonus for any athlete who finishes in under 51 seconds, in addition to N500,000 for the top eight finishers. The race will be called the Nathaniel Ezekiel 400m Hurdles Showdown.

The event will take place at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex. This is part of the celebrations for Athletic Heat’s ten years of promoting athletics. The theme for the meet is “10 Years of Impact. A Legacy That Keeps Running.”

Ezekiel, who holds Nigeria’s national record in this event, said the bonus would motivate athletes to push themselves. They will now have two goals: to finish among the top eight for a share of the prize money, and to run under 51 seconds for the bonus.

He praised Athletic Heat for its dedication to the sport over the past decade. Ezekiel encouraged athletes who have not yet registered to do so before the meet and wished everyone success in their training.

Ese Oguma, Chief Executive Officer of Athletic Heat, welcomed this support. He described it as important for an event aimed at inspiring the next generation of athletes.

Oguma pointed out that the sub-51-second target gives competitors a clear goal to aim for while adding excitement to the anniversary celebrations. He thanked Ezekiel for supporting the organization’s vision and for creating more chances for Nigerian athletes.

Ezekiel is not the only top athlete supporting the meet. Shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, discus thrower Ebubechukwu Vincent Ugwoke, high jumper Temitope Adeshina, and sprinter Edidiong Udo have also contributed prize money. Registration is open on A3Tickets, with the deadline set for October 24.

This information was shared in a statement by Maxwell Kumoye, Chairman of the Media Committee of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.