Kanyinsola Ajayi won the men's 100 metres at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, clocking 9.84 seconds to claim victory on 4 July 2026. The 21-year-old Nigerian sprinter defeated reigning world champion Oblique Seville, who finished second in 9.89 seconds. Former world champion Christian Coleman came third in 9.95 seconds, just ahead of Kenneth Bednarek in 9.96 seconds. Ajayi's time matched the Nigerian national record he first set in May 2026 at the NCAA East Regional Championships, surpassing Olusoji Fasuba's 9.85-second mark from 2006.
The race marked Ajayi's Diamond League debut. Despite Seville gaining a quicker start from the blocks, Ajayi overtook him during the acceleration phase and took the lead by the 30-metre mark, maintaining it to the finish line. Ajayi, who hails from Ikorodu and competes for Auburn University in the United States, had already won the 2026 NCAA Indoor 60m title and the 2026 NCAA Outdoor 100m championship. His victory makes him the second Nigerian to win the NCAA 100m title, following Divine Oduduru in 2018.
After the race, Ajayi said: "I feel good, I've been consistent. That was part of my goal—to stay on top of it all, stay consistent, come out here and do what I have to do and just execute my race." His 9.84-second run is the second-fastest time of the year between him and Seville, whose season-best remains 9.82 seconds. The win at Hayward Field adds to a breakout season for Ajayi and signals a shift in momentum in Nigerian sprinting on the global stage.
Ajayi beat the reigning world champion despite Seville's superior start, overtaking him mid-race to win in 9.84 seconds—the same time that set the Nigerian record in May. This victory on his Diamond League debut places Ajayi among the world's elite sprinters, just months after his NCAA 100m title. As the second Nigerian to win the NCAA 100m crown, his rise mirrors a growing presence of Nigerian sprinters in top-tier competitions. His consistency across collegiate and global stages suggests a new benchmark for Nigerian track performance.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
