Ajayi Storms to 9.84 in Eugene Statement Win, Makes Diamond League History

Reigning NCAA 100m champion Kanyinsola Ajayi delivered a sensational performance on his Diamond League debut, storming to victory in 9.84 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic.

The 22-year-old Nigerian sprinter stunned a world-class field on Saturday night, becoming the first Nigerian man to win the 100m at a Diamond League event and the first since Seun Ogunkoya’s Golden League triumph in Zurich in 1998.

Ajayi had already marked himself as a contender with a 9.84 run last month, a time only bettered by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, who clocked 9.82 at his national championships.

But in Eugene, Ajayi reclaimed the spotlight, edging Seville into second place with 9.89, while 2019 world champion Christian Coleman finished third in 9.95.

The victory is a landmark moment for Nigerian athletics, with Ajayi’s breakthrough signaling a new era of sprinting excellence.

His performance not only cements his place among the world’s elite but also revives memories of Nigeria’s golden generation of sprinters, with Ajayi now writing his own chapter in history.