Nigeria’s sprint star, Kayinsola Ajayi, equalled the national 100m record after clocking 9.84 seconds to win the men’s 100m at the London Diamond League on Saturday.
Ajayi defeated a world-class field to claim the biggest victory of his career, finishing ahead of reigning world champion Oblique Seville of Jamaica, who crossed the line in 9.87 seconds. Great Britain’s Romell Glave finished third in a personal best of 9.97 seconds.
The 9.84-second performance matches the fastest time ever recorded by a Nigerian. Ajayi first set the mark at the NCAA East Regionals in Lexington, Kentucky, before equalling it at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon during his Diamond League debut earlier this season.
In Oregon, the Nigerian also finished ahead of Seville and former world champion Christian Coleman of the United States, underlining his growing status among the world’s top sprinters.
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The London victory extends Ajayi’s impressive 2026 campaign and strengthens his credentials ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he is expected to lead Nigeria’s sprint challenge.
The performance also provides Team Nigeria with a significant boost as the country intensifies preparations for the Games, with Ajayi demonstrating both the speed and consistency required to compete for medals on the global stage.
Following his breakthrough victory in Oregon, Ajayi had responded to his critics on social media, writing: “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 Diamond League by African record holder Ezekiel Nathaniel, who competed in the men’s 400m hurdles against a strong field that included world record holder Karsten Warholm of Norway and American Trevor Bassitt.
Both Ajayi and Nathaniel are expected to join Team Nigeria’s training camp in Aberdeen, Scotland, before the athletes move to Glasgow for the start of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
