London: Kayinsola Ajayi equals national record again at Diamond League meet

By Emeka Nwosu — 18 July 2026 — 4 min read

Nigerian sprint star Kayinsola Ajayi continued his strong 2026 campaign on Saturday, matching the national men’s 100 metres record for the third time this season. He achieved this feat while winning the Novuna London Athletics Meet, which was the 11th stop of the Wanda Diamond League.

Ajayi secured victory with a time of 9.84 seconds, outpacing Oblique Seville of Jamaica, who is the reigning world champion and finished second in 9.87 seconds. Fellow Jamaican Romell Glave took third place, setting a personal best of 9.97 seconds.

Consistent Performances and Breakthrough Season

This win further solidifies Ajayi’s status as one of the world’s leading sprinters. He has now defeated Seville twice in consecutive Diamond League meetings, having also overcome the Jamaican at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene earlier in the month. The 21-year-old Nigerian athlete showcased notable composure within a competitive field, equalling his national record of 9.84 seconds for the third time this year.

Ajayi has recorded this same time in Kentucky on May 29, in Eugene on July 4, and in London on July 18. This consistency has been a key factor in his rise to global medal contention. His dominance over Seville is particularly noteworthy, especially since Seville’s season’s best time of 9.82 seconds remains the fastest globally this year. Despite this, Ajayi remains undefeated against Seville in 2026, improving his head-to-head record to 3-1.

The triumph in London adds another significant achievement to what has been a breakthrough year for the Auburn University sprinter. Earlier in the season, Ajayi surpassed Olusoji Fasuba’s long-standing national record. He then went on to win the NCAA men’s 100m title. While his NCAA performance was wind-assisted, he has consistently demonstrated his capability under legal conditions on the Diamond League circuit.

His victory in Eugene marked him as a serious contender in world sprinting, and his subsequent success on Saturday confirmed that his earlier performance was not an isolated event. With almost two months remaining in the athletics season, Ajayi appears well-positioned to compete for more honours and potentially further lower the national record.

Other Notable Performances and Future Prospects

In other events, Ezekiel Nathaniel of Nigeria secured fourth place in the men’s 400m hurdles, clocking a time of 48.30 seconds. The event was dominated by Norway’s world record holder Karsten Warholm, who set a meeting record of 46.61 seconds. Germany’s Emil Agyekum finished second in 47.45 seconds, followed by Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba in third with 48.10 seconds.

Ajayi’s recent Diamond League success comes at an opportune moment for Team Nigeria as they prepare for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Having now equalled the national record three times and twice defeated the reigning world champion on the sport’s premier one-day circuit, Ajayi has established himself as one of the country’s most promising medal hopefuls.

His performances this season have not only reshaped Nigerian sprinting history but have also signaled the emergence of a genuine global competitor capable of challenging the best athletes on the world’s biggest stages. The 21-year-old, who hails from Ikorodu and attends Auburn University in the United States, has had a remarkable season. He won the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships over 60 metres and the 100 metres at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships, becoming the second Nigerian to win the NCAA 100m title after Divine Oduduru in 2018.

The victory at the Prefontaine Classic was a significant statement in what is proving to be a breakthrough year for Nigerian sprinting. Ajayi expressed that equalling his own national record has reinforced his belief that even faster times are achievable for him. He stated, “Equalling the national record again means a lot. That means I can do better and I feel great about that.”

Ajayi also noted that the transition from collegiate athletics to the professional circuit has not been intimidating, attributing his preparedness to the demanding environment of the NCAA. He believes this experience has equipped him to compete against the world’s top athletes. The Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, commented that these performances are a boost for Team Nigeria ahead of Glasgow. Olopade also mentioned that the athletes would join their teammates training in Aberdeen before proceeding to Glasgow for the Games.

Ajayi first made history by breaking the men’s 100m national record at the 2026 NCAA Division I East First Round track and field meet in the United States, where he clocked 9.84 seconds in a quarter-final heat.

Source: premiumtimesng.com