Ajayi Makes History with Career-High World 100m Ranking, Becomes First Nigerian in Top 10
NCAA indoor 60m champion Kanyinsola Ajayi has stormed into the world’s sprinting elite, reaching a career-high ranking in the men’s 100m after the latest update from World Athletics.
Ajayi, who made headlines in 2025 by reaching the final of the 100m at the World Championships in Tokyo, initially climbed to 13th in the global standings.
His steady rise continued into early 2026, improving to 12th and then 11th, before this week’s update confirmed his breakthrough into the top 10.
He now sits as the eighth-best 100m runner in the world.
The Auburn University Junior has now etched his name into Nigerian athletics history.
This year, he became the first Nigerian man to win the NCAA indoor 60m title, setting a championship record (6.45). Now, he has achieved another milestone by becoming the first Nigerian sprinter to crack the 100m top 10 since World Athletics introduced its rankings system in 2019.
Ajayi’s achievement surpasses the feats of compatriots Enoch Adegoke and Divine Oduduru, who both peaked at 18th in the rankings.
Adegoke reached that mark after his 100m final appearance at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, while Oduduru achieved it in 2019 when he successfully completed a 100/200m double at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Earlier generations of Nigerian sprint stars, such as Olusoji Fasuba, who won the World Indoor 60m gold in 2008, competed before the ranking system was established.
