Nigeria, Sept. 24 -- Nigeria's Ezekiel Nathaniel broke the national record in a thrilling men's 400m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, clocking 47.11 seconds to place fourth.

The 22-year-old missed out on a historic podium finish by a whisker, with Qatar's Abderrahman Samba edging him to bronze in 47.06 seconds.

America's Rai Benjamin stormed to gold in 46.52, finally securing his first world title after two silvers and a bronze, while Brazil's Alison dos Santos took silver in 46.84.

World record holder Karsten Warholm of Norway faltered after clipping an early hurdle and finished fifth in 47.58.

Nathaniel's run was not only a personal best but also a new national record, erasing the 47.10 he set earlier thi...