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Kanyinsola Ajayi ran 9.92s in France, breaking the meet record.
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He now ranks fourth in Nigeria’s sprint history.
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His form confirms his global rise.
Kanyinsola Ajayi has solidified his status as one of the fastest sprinters worldwide.
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On Monday at the Meeting International Sotteville-lès-Rouen in France, the 20-year-old burst from lane five to clock an impressive 9.92 s in the men’s 100 m—tying his personal best and smashing the nine-year-old meet record of 10.02 s set by Keston Bledman in 2015.
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With a legal +1.7 m/s tailwind at his back, Ajayi surged ahead of a field full of sub-10 athletes.
Cameroonian Emmanuel Eseme claimed silver with a time of 10.04 s.
Senegal’s Mamadou Sarr grabbed bronze in 10.10 s.
Great Britain’s Eugene Amo-Dadzie pipped Australia’s Rohan Browning – both clocking 10.16s to take fourth.
Canada’s Jerome Blake (10.23 s), South Africa’s Tsebo Matsoso (10.32 s), and local favourite Jimmy Vicaut (10.36 s) completed the top eight.
That performance marked Ajayi’s first outing since he finished fourth at the NCAA Championships in Eugene where he also ran 9.92 s.
By matching that time twice, he demonstrates remarkable consistency on the world stage.
He now ranks fourth on Nigeria’s all-time list alongside Seun Ogunkoya and Udodi Onwuzurike, trailing only Soji Fasuba (9.85 s), Divine Oduduru (9.86 s), and Godson Oghenebrume (9.90 s).
At age 20, Kanyinsola Ajayi holds two of Nigeria’s top five legal 100 m times.
He now becomes one of just three Nigerians—alongside Davidson Ezinwa and Ogunkoya—to record four career sub-10 runs.
His résumé already includes the national 100 m title (June 2024), an Olympic semi-final in Paris, and a 4×100 m relay silver at the African Championships in Douala.
Earlier this indoor season, Ajayi set a 60 m personal best of 6.48 s at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
He then ran 6.52 s to finish second in Virginia Beach.
Each race confirms that Kanyinsola Ajayi isn’t just an emerging talent—he’s a genuine contender for global sprint honours.
Do you think Kanyinsola Ajayi will become Nigeria’s next sprint legend? Share your thoughts below!
