Nigeria’s sprint star Kayinsola Ajayi had another great showing on Saturday. He matched the national men’s 100 metres record for the third time this season. Ajayi won the Novuna London Athletics Meet, which is the 11th stop of the Wanda Diamond League.
Ajayi finished the race in 9.84 seconds. He beat reigning world champion Oblique Seville from Jamaica, who came second in 9.87 seconds. Nigerian runner Romell Glave took third place with a personal best of 9.97 seconds.
This win shows that Ajayi is one of the fastest runners in the world. He has now beaten Seville twice in a row in Diamond League races. Earlier this month, he also won against the Jamaican at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.
Consistency in Performance
The 21-year-old Nigerian showed great calmness in a tough race. He matched his national record of 9.84 seconds for the third time this year. Ajayi has run the same time in Kentucky on May 29, in Eugene on July 4, and now in London on July 18. This shows his consistent performance, making him a strong contender for global medals.
Ajayi’s ability to defeat Seville is impressive. Seville’s best time this season is 9.82 seconds, the fastest in the world. Even so, Ajayi has beaten him in all their meetings this year, improving his record against Seville to 3-1.
A Breakthrough Year
Winning in London adds to what has been a breakthrough season for Ajayi, who runs for Auburn University. Earlier this year, he broke Olusoji Fasuba’s long-standing national record. He also won the NCAA men’s 100m title. Though that race had a wind assist, Ajayi has shown his skill under normal conditions in the Diamond League.
His win in Eugene marked him as a serious player in the sprinting world. Saturday’s win proved that it was not just a lucky race.
With almost two months left in the athletics season, Ajayi looks set to aim for more titles and maybe even break the national record again.
Looking Ahead to Glasgow
Ajayi’s latest win in the Diamond League comes at a good time for Team Nigeria. The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are coming up soon.
Having matched the national record three times and beaten the reigning world champion twice this season, Ajayi is now one of Nigeria’s top medal hopes. His achievements this year have not only changed Nigerian sprinting history but also marked him as a real contender on the world stage.
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