Nigeria’s sprint star, Kayinsola Ajayi, matched the Nigerian 100m record of 9.84 seconds at the London Diamond League on Saturday. He won the men’s 100m race against top competitors, marking the biggest win of his career, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Ajayi outpaced reigning world champion Oblique Seville from Jamaica, who came in second with a time of 9.87 seconds. Great Britain’s Romell Glave took third place, finishing with a personal best of 9.97 seconds.
The 9.84-second time ties the fastest ever recorded by a Nigerian. Ajayi first set this record at the NCAA East Regionals in Lexington, Kentucky. He has now matched it twice this season, first at his Diamond League debut during the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon. There, he also outperformed Seville and former world champion Christian Coleman from the United States.
Ajayi’s win in London marks another important step in his impressive season. He is proving himself among the top sprinters in the world.
This victory also boosts Team Nigeria’s confidence as they gear up for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Ajayi showed he has the speed and calmness to compete with the best on the international stage.
After his breakthrough win in Oregon, Ajayi sent a strong message to his critics on social media. He wrote, “Hey doubters, the more you talk, the more I shine. You do not know how deep this goes. All of this was just a matter of time. We are not done. Talk soon.”
Nigeria was also represented at the London meeting by Ezekiel Nathaniel, the African record holder in the men’s 400m hurdles. He faced a tough field, which included world record holder Karsten Warholm from Norway and American Trevor Bassitt. Nathaniel is also preparing for the Commonwealth Games.
Both Ajayi and Nathaniel are expected to meet with Team Nigeria in Aberdeen, Scotland, ahead of the Games in Glasgow.
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