Ajayi One Race from History in Star-Studded Commonwealth 100m Final

Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi stands on the brink of history as he prepares to line up in the men’s 100m final at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, seeking to become the first Nigerian ever to win the blue-riband title.

The 21-year-old qualified in emphatic fashion by winning his semi-final in 9.94 seconds and will start from lane four, the position traditionally reserved for one of the leading contenders.

Ajayi enters the final with a personal and season’s best of 9.84 seconds, making him the fastest athlete in the field based on lifetime performances and the fastest performer of 2026 among the finalists.

Victory would see Ajayi end Nigeria’s long wait for a Commonwealth Games men’s 100m champion and become the country’s first medallist in the event since Olusoji Fasuba claimed silver behind Jamaica’s Asafa Powell at Melbourne 2006.

Standing in his way is a high-quality field led by Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme, who stormed to a national record-equalling and season’s best 9.89 seconds in the semi-finals, making him arguably the form athlete heading into the final.

Eseme’s lifetime best now matches his semi-final performance, setting up what promises to be a thrilling duel with Ajayi.

Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy, who finished second behind Eseme in the semi-finals with a personal best-equalling 9.94 seconds, also enters the race full of confidence, while South Africa’s Gift Leotlela brings a personal best of 9.87 seconds and has consistently been among Africa’s leading sprinters.

Ghana’s Benjamin Azamati, Wales’ Jeremiah Azu and South Africa’s Cheswill Johnson have all shown the ability to dip under or around the 10-second barrier, while Australia’s Edward Nketia rounds out a final featuring seven athletes who have run 10.03 seconds or faster.

Ajayi’s season best of 9.84 seconds is the quickest personal performance in the field, and if he can reproduce that form under the Glasgow lights, he will be difficult to beat.