Kanyinsola Ajayi Outruns World Champion Seville in Prefontaine Classic 100m

Nigerian sprinting sensation, Kanyinsola Ajayi, delivered an exceptional performance on Saturday, clinching victory in the men's 100 metres at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic held in Eugene, Oregon. The 21-year-old athlete triumphed over a formidable lineup that included the reigning world champion, Oblique Seville.

Ajayi, making his inaugural appearance on the prestigious Diamond League circuit, recorded an impressive time of 9.84 seconds, thereby matching his own national record. Competing at the iconic Hayward Field, the Nigerian powered ahead of Seville after the initial phase of the race to secure his win. Jamaica's Seville finished closely behind in second place with a time of 9.89 seconds, while American sprinter Christian Coleman secured third position, clocking 9.95 seconds. Another American, Kenneth Bednarek, came in fourth, completing the race in 9.96 seconds.

Despite Seville's stronger start, Ajayi surged into the lead approximately 30 metres into the race and successfully maintained his advantage against the chasing competitors, crossing the finish line first with a legal tailwind measured at +0.1m/s. Reflecting on his achievement, Ajayi expressed that the win was a testament to the consistency he had aimed for throughout the current 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,” Ajayi stated after his victory.

This triumph adds another significant milestone to an already remarkable season for the Nigerian sprinter. Earlier this year, Ajayi secured both the National Collegiate Athletic Association men's 60 metres indoor and 100 metres outdoor titles. His NCAA outdoor crown was achieved with a wind-assisted time of 9.72 seconds, placing him joint sixth alongside sprint legend Asafa Powell on the all-conditions list for the world's fastest men's 100m performers. Only Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Obadele Thompson, and Andre De Grasse have recorded quicker times under all conditions.