Kayinsola Ajayi Claims Diamond League 100m Title With Record-Equalling Run

Nigerian sprint sensation Kayinsola Ajayi delivered a stunning performance to win the men’s 100 metres at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon, equalling the national record in the process.

Making his Diamond League debut on Saturday, the 21-year-old clocked 9.84 seconds to finish ahead of a world-class field, matching Nigeria’s fastest-ever legal time over the distance.

Jamaica’s Oblique Seville placed second in 9.89 seconds, while American sprinter Christian Coleman finished third in 9.95 seconds.

Ajayi’s victory caps an impressive breakthrough season and further establishes him as one of the world’s fastest sprinters ahead of the major championships later this year.

The Auburn University athlete arrived in Eugene after a standout NCAA campaign in the United States.

Earlier in June, Ajayi became Nigeria’s fastest man after running a legal 9.84 seconds to surpass the long-standing national record of 9.85 seconds set by Olusoji Fasuba in 2006.

He also claimed the NCAA men’s 100m title with a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds, although the performance was not eligible as a record because of an illegal tailwind.

Competing against Olympic and World Championship medallists, Ajayi showed remarkable composure, producing another flawless race under legal wind conditions of +0.1m/s to equal the Nigerian record and secure his maiden Diamond League victory.

In the women’s 100m hurdles, Nigerian star Tobi Amusan finished second in 12.34 seconds.

American Masai Russell won the race in 12.24 seconds, while Bahamian Devynne Charlton claimed third place with a time of 12.41 seconds.

Although she narrowly missed victory, Amusan continued her impressive 2026 campaign, having already claimed Diamond League wins in Rabat and Paris while consistently posting world-class performances, including a season’s best of 12.28 seconds.