Nigerian sprint star Kanyinsola Ajayi has rewritten the country’s athletics history after blazing to a sensational 9.84 seconds in the men’s 100 metres at the NCAA East Regionals in Lexington, Kentucky.
The Auburn University athlete produced the performance of his career to win his race, secure qualification for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, and eclipse the long-standing Nigerian record of 9.85 seconds set by Olusoji Fasuba nearly two decades ago.
Ajayi’s remarkable run officially makes him the fastest Nigerian man ever and marks the end of Fasuba’s reign as the nation’s record holder, a title he had held since 2006.
Competing with a legal tailwind, the 20-year-old exploded out of the blocks and powered to the finish line in a time that now stands as the fastest 100m performance in the world this season.
His historic effort also places him among the elite sprinters in NCAA history, ranking second on the all-time collegiate list behind Christian Coleman’s 9.82-second record.
The record-breaking achievement capped an outstanding week for the Nigerian sensation.
Earlier in the competition, Ajayi had already announced his intentions by running 9.90 seconds to set a new facility record during the preliminary rounds.
However, he saved his best for the quarterfinals, delivering a breathtaking performance that lowered his personal best, shattered the national record, and further enhanced his growing reputation as one of the brightest sprint talents in world athletics.
Ajayi’s emergence signals a new era for Nigerian sprinting and offers renewed optimism ahead of major international competitions.
With his place secured at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, attention will now turn to whether the young speedster can continue his extraordinary rise and challenge for more records on the global stage.
His landmark achievement not only cements his place in Nigerian sporting history but also reinforces the country’s rich tradition of producing world-class track and field stars
