Nigeria’s rising sprint star, Kayinsola Ajayi delivered a career-defining performance on Saturday, winning the men’s 100 metres at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon, while equalling the Nigerian national record.
Competing in his first-ever Diamond League race, the 21-year-old clocked an impressive 9.84 seconds under legal wind conditions (+0.1m/s) to beat a star-studded field featuring Oblique Seville and Christian Coleman.
Seville finished second in 9.89 seconds, while former world champion Coleman crossed the line third in 9.95 seconds.
The victory further cements Ajayi’s status as one of the world’s fastest sprinters this season and marks a significant milestone in his emergence as a major force on the international athletics circuit.
The Auburn University athlete arrived at the Diamond League meeting following an outstanding collegiate season in the United States.
Earlier in June, Ajayi became Nigeria’s fastest man after recording a legal 9.84 seconds to erase the long-standing national record of 9.85 seconds previously held by Olusoji Fasuba since 2006.
He later captured the NCAA men’s 100 metres title with a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds, a performance that could not be recognised as an official record because of the illegal tailwind.
Facing Olympic and World Championship medallists in Eugene, Ajayi maintained his composure to produce another outstanding run, matching his national record in legal conditions and announcing himself as a genuine contender for major international honours later this season.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s world record holder, Tobi Amusan, also impressed in the women’s 100 metres hurdles, finishing second with a time of 12.34 seconds.
American hurdler Masai Russell won the race in 12.24 seconds, while Devynne Charlton claimed third place in 12.41 seconds.
Although she narrowly missed victory, Amusan continued her consistent run of form during the 2026 season. The former world champion has already secured Diamond League victories in Rabat and Paris and has consistently posted world-class performances, including a season’s best of 12.28 seconds.
