Kanyinsola Ajayi etched his name into Nigerian athletics history after storming to a world-leading 9.84 seconds in the men’s 100m at the NCAA East Regional Championships on Friday.
The time saw the Nigerian sprinter break the national record of 9.85s set by Olusoji Fasuba in 2006, ending the former African record holder’s reign as Nigeria’s fastest man after nearly two decades.
Ajayi’s sensational run, achieved with a legal wind reading of +0.4m/s, not only secured victory in his heat and qualification for the NCAA Championships but also moved him to the top of the 2026 world rankings.
The performance represents another major milestone in what has been a remarkable rise for the Auburn University star, who has emerged as one of the brightest sprint talents in global athletics.
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Fasuba’s record had stood as one of the longest-lasting marks in Nigerian athletics. The former sprint star ran 9.85s in Doha in May 2006, setting an African record that remained unbeaten for 15 years before Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala clocked 9.77s in 2021.
Ajayi’s breakthrough now places him ahead of a distinguished list of Nigerian sprint greats that includes Fasuba, Divine Oduduru, Seun Ogunkoya and Davidson Ezinwa.
Speaking after the race, the 20-year-old revealed that breaking the national record had long been one of his ambitions.
“I have always been dreaming to break the national record. Shoutout to Olusoji Fasuba,” Ajayi told Making of Champions.
The Nigerian also insisted that his focus remains on self-improvement rather than comparisons with his rivals.
“I am not thinking about Jelani Watkins. It is me versus myself. I am not thinking about anybody else.”
Ajayi’s performance continues Nigeria’s recent resurgence in the sprint events and strengthens hopes of a strong showing at upcoming global competitions.
With the NCAA Championships still to come and the World Athletics Championships later in the season, the Nigerian will now be looking to build on his historic run and further cement his place among the world’s elite sprinters.
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