Kanyinsola Ajayi produced a stunning performance on Saturday to win the men’s 100 metres at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, seeing off a field that included reigning world champion Oblique Seville.
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The 21-year-old Nigerian clocked 9.84 seconds to equal his own national record, marking a striking debut on the Diamond League circuit.
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Racing at Hayward Field, Ajayi overtook Seville in the opening stages to seal victory. The Jamaican settled for second in 9.89 seconds, with American sprinter Christian Coleman claiming third in 9.95 seconds. Compatriot Kenneth Bednarek rounded out the top four in 9.96 seconds.
Seville made the faster start, but Ajayi surged into the lead past the 30-metre mark and held off the chasing pack to cross the line first, aided by a legal tailwind of +0.1m/s.
Speaking after the race, Ajayi credited the win to the consistency he had targeted throughout the season. “I feel good, I’ve been consistent. That was part of my goal. Stay on top of it all, stay consistent, come out here and do what I have to do and just execute my race. So I feel good about that,” he said.
The victory extends a remarkable campaign for the Nigerian sprinter, who has already claimed the NCAA men’s 60 metres indoor and 100 metres outdoor titles this season.
Ajayi won the NCAA outdoor title in a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds, a performance that placed him joint sixth alongside Asafa Powell on the all-conditions list of the world’s fastest men over 100m. Only Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Obadele Thompson and Andre De Grasse have run faster under all conditions.
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