T&F’s Ezekiel Highlights Day One of Big 12 Outdoor Championship
5/15/2025 11:37:00 PM | Track & Field
Nathaniel Ezekiel rewrites the history books in the 400mH
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Baylor track & field had a successful day at Rock Chalk Park on Thursday in the first day of competition at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships, highlighted by Nathaniel Ezekiel dominating the competition in the 400-meter hurdles.
Ezekiel ran a 47.90 time in the preliminary round of the 400mH, breaking his own meet record set in the previous year, the BU program record, the Nigeria national record and became the seventh fastest DI athlete in NCAA history.
An additional highlight was thrower Igor Olaru earning a silver medal in the men's hammer throw, breaking his own BU program record and PR at 219-4.
THE RUNDOWN
Making his Big 12 Outdoor Championship debut, the freshman Igor Olaru came out focused and ready. Ranking second in the Big 12 coming into the meet, Olaru made his statement on his third throw of the day with a new PR and BU program record of 219-4 to put him in first place heading into the finals. Through throw six, it looked like Olaru could have gold in his pocket, but Kansas State's and former Bear, Moore, earned a personal-best of 222-0 on his final throw to squeak out past Olaru. Olaru put Baylor's first points on the board, earning eight with his second-place finish.
Beginning in the first four events of the heptathlon, Logan Todorovich and Kiara Wesseh took on the challenge. Todorovich finished in eighth in both the high jump, earning a PR of 5-5.25, and the 200m to put herself in eighth place overall with 3,115 points and in contention for All-Big 12 honors.
Wesseh, also earning a PR of 5-5.25, finished fifth in the high jump and earned another PR of 25.44 in the 200m to be in 15th place with 2,959 points overall.
Moving to the running events, Tiriah Kelley shined in the women's 200m, winning the preliminary round with a 22.72 time. The junior with the No. 3 time in the NCAA, beat out her competition by 0.22 seconds to advance to Saturday's final. Mariah Ayers earned a season-best of 23.47, finishing 12th, while senior Summer Sergeant ran for a PR of 23.70 to finish 18th.
Ezekiel was BU's lone competitor in the 400mH, outracing his competition by nearly two full seconds with his sub-48 second time. In the women's 400mH, Calisha Taylor survived and advanced with a 57.77 mark in the preliminary round. Taylor now puts herself in contention to earn All-Big 12 status on Saturday alongside Ezekiel.
MIKE ON THE MIC
"Had a solid first day at the Big 12s," head coach Michael Ford said. "Definitely want to start out with Igor, a school record, getting second in his first postseason meet and the first time we've scored points in the hammer in some years, so I'm very proud of Chak and Igor. Our multis did as expected. Going to the track, what do you say about Nathaniel? Meet record, school record… Just very happy with his performance and our team's performance today."
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor takes on Day Two of the Big 12 Outdoor Competition, with the most notable events for the Bears of women's long jump and pole vault taking place at 4 p.m. CT.
- BaylorBears.com -
Ezekiel ran a 47.90 time in the preliminary round of the 400mH, breaking his own meet record set in the previous year, the BU program record, the Nigeria national record and became the seventh fastest DI athlete in NCAA history.
An additional highlight was thrower Igor Olaru earning a silver medal in the men's hammer throw, breaking his own BU program record and PR at 219-4.
THE RUNDOWN
Making his Big 12 Outdoor Championship debut, the freshman Igor Olaru came out focused and ready. Ranking second in the Big 12 coming into the meet, Olaru made his statement on his third throw of the day with a new PR and BU program record of 219-4 to put him in first place heading into the finals. Through throw six, it looked like Olaru could have gold in his pocket, but Kansas State's and former Bear, Moore, earned a personal-best of 222-0 on his final throw to squeak out past Olaru. Olaru put Baylor's first points on the board, earning eight with his second-place finish.
Beginning in the first four events of the heptathlon, Logan Todorovich and Kiara Wesseh took on the challenge. Todorovich finished in eighth in both the high jump, earning a PR of 5-5.25, and the 200m to put herself in eighth place overall with 3,115 points and in contention for All-Big 12 honors.
Wesseh, also earning a PR of 5-5.25, finished fifth in the high jump and earned another PR of 25.44 in the 200m to be in 15th place with 2,959 points overall.
Moving to the running events, Tiriah Kelley shined in the women's 200m, winning the preliminary round with a 22.72 time. The junior with the No. 3 time in the NCAA, beat out her competition by 0.22 seconds to advance to Saturday's final. Mariah Ayers earned a season-best of 23.47, finishing 12th, while senior Summer Sergeant ran for a PR of 23.70 to finish 18th.
Ezekiel was BU's lone competitor in the 400mH, outracing his competition by nearly two full seconds with his sub-48 second time. In the women's 400mH, Calisha Taylor survived and advanced with a 57.77 mark in the preliminary round. Taylor now puts herself in contention to earn All-Big 12 status on Saturday alongside Ezekiel.
MIKE ON THE MIC
"Had a solid first day at the Big 12s," head coach Michael Ford said. "Definitely want to start out with Igor, a school record, getting second in his first postseason meet and the first time we've scored points in the hammer in some years, so I'm very proud of Chak and Igor. Our multis did as expected. Going to the track, what do you say about Nathaniel? Meet record, school record… Just very happy with his performance and our team's performance today."
WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor takes on Day Two of the Big 12 Outdoor Competition, with the most notable events for the Bears of women's long jump and pole vault taking place at 4 p.m. CT.
- BaylorBears.com -
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Multi
/ Track & Field
Multi
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