Fasuba praises Ajayi's hard work

Kanyinsola Ajayi. Photo: Athletic Heat

Former Nigerian sprinter Olusoji Fasuba has praised Auburn athlete Kanyinsola Ajayi. Ajayi set a new Nigerian record in the men’s 100m. Fasuba commended the 21-year-old’s steady rise from junior competitions to the senior level, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Ajayi broke Fasuba’s national record from 20 years ago. He ran 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 record of 9.85 seconds was set at the Doha Grand Prix in May 2006. At that time, it was also the African record. Now, Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala holds the continental record with a time of 9.77 seconds, achieved in Nairobi on September 18, 2021.

In a conversation with our reporter, Fasuba shared his thoughts on Ajayi’s growth.

“One thing I admire about Kanyinsola is that his progress has been mostly unnoticed. There was no big hype around him, just steady improvement every year. While many were looking elsewhere, he kept working, developing and closing the gap,” Fasuba told PUNCH Sports Extra.

“Sometimes, athletes who make the most noise as juniors do not become the best seniors. Kanyinsola’s journey shows that patience, consistency and hard work still count. He has earned this moment. Most importantly, I am happy that a humble young man has taken over the baton from me.”

Besides setting the national record, Ajayi is now the second-fastest collegiate men’s 100m runner ever. American Christian Coleman holds the record, having run 9.82 seconds in 2017.

Ajayi is also the Nigerian athlete with the most sub-10s. He has run eight times under 10 seconds between April 2025 and May 2026.

Ajayi is aiming to win his first NCAA title at the NCAA Championships in Oregon, starting on June 10.