It was a tough opening day for Team Nigeria at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, but late fireworks from Ajayi Kanyisola and Israel Sunday Okon in the men’s 100m brought relief and renewed hope.
Ajayi and Okon, college teammates in the US, both qualified for the semi-final of the men’s 100m, impressing in their heats on Saturday.
For much of the day, results did not go Nigeria’s way. In the women’s 100m, Rosemary Chukwuma failed to progress past the heats, finishing fifth in 11.27s.
There was more disappointment in the long jump as Ese Brume, one of the nation’s most decorated athletes, and debutant Prestina Ochonogor both missed out on the final.
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Brume, who is returning to action less than a year after surviving a serious car accident that forced her to wear a neck brace during recovery, could only manage 6.46m for 19th place. Ochonogor’s 6.05m left her 33rd.
The discus offered no breakthrough either. Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons and Obiageri Amaechi finished 20th and 33rd overall with best throws of 59.45m and 55.69m, falling short of the final.
But just when Nigeria’s campaign looked to be unraveling on the first day, the men’s 100m heats delivered a spark.
Ajayi stormed to a new personal best of 9.88s, finishing second in his heat behind South Africa’s Gift Leotlela (9.87s) and ahead of Jamaica’s Oblique Seville (9.93s). Moments later, Okon underlined his credentials by winning his heat in 10.04s, beating 2020 Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy and Britain’s Zhamel Hughes.
Ajayi’s time made him the third-fastest Nigerian in history, only behind national record holder Olusoji Fasuba (9.85s) and Divine Oduduru (9.86s).
Their progression to the semi-finals was the bright spot Nigeria badly needed, coming in the second-to-last event of the day before the men’s shot put final.
In that final, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi produced another consistent display, throwing 21.52m to place fifth overall. The gold went to Ryan Crouser of the United States with 22.34m, but Enekwechi once again showed he belongs among the world’s elite.
Attention now turns to Day Two, where Ajayi and Okon will battle for places in the 100m final. Ajayi faces a daunting semi-final that includes reigning world champion Noah Lyles, Jacobs, and South African veteran Akani Simbine.
Okon, meanwhile, lines up against Seville, reigning Olympics 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, and Gift Leotlela in another loaded semi-final.
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