Former Nigerian sprinter Olusoji Fasuba has given a thumbs up to Auburn athlete Kayinsola Ajayi. Ajayi, just 21, set a new Nigerian record in the men’s 100m. This comes as he moves from junior competition to the senior level, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
Ajayi broke Fasuba’s record that stood for 20 years. He achieved a world-leading time of 9.84 seconds at the NCAA East Regional Championships last Friday. He also qualified for the NCAA Championships.
Fasuba’s previous record was 9.85 seconds. He set this mark at the Doha Grand Prix in May 2006. The current African record belongs to Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, who ran 9.77 seconds in Nairobi on September 18, 2021.
In a conversation with our correspondent, Fasuba shared his thoughts on Ajayi’s growth. He said, “One thing I admire about Kayinsola is that his progression has largely been under the radar. There was no huge hype around him, just steady improvement year after year. While many people were looking elsewhere, he kept working, kept developing and kept closing the gap.”
Fasuba added, “Sometimes the athletes who make the most noise as juniors do not go on to become the best seniors. Kayinsola’s journey is a reminder that patience, consistency and hard work still matter. He has earned this moment. Most importantly, I am happy that a humble young man has actually taken over the baton from me.”
Besides setting the national record, Ajayi now ranks as the second-fastest collegiate men’s 100m runner ever. American Christian Coleman holds the top spot with a time of 9.82 seconds, set in 2017.
Ajayi is also the Nigerian athlete with the most sub-10 second runs. He has achieved this feat eight times between April 2025 and May 2026.
Ajayi hopes to win his first NCAA title at the NCAA Championships in Oregon. This event starts on June 10.
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