Ajayi Claims Nigeria’s First Commonwealth 100m Medal in 20 Years, Eseme Sets Games Record
Nigeria’s wait for a first-ever Commonwealth Games men’s 100m champion will extend to 2030 after Kayinsola Ajayi settled for a historic bronze medal in a thrilling final at Scotstoun Stadium on Tuesday night.
Ajayi, who had entered the race as the fastest man in the field this season with a personal best of 9.84 seconds, clocked 9.90 seconds to finish third behind Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme and Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy.
Despite falling short of gold, the 21-year-old ended Nigeria’s 20-year wait for a medal in the blue-riband event, becoming the country’s first medalist since Olusoji Fasuba won silver behind Jamaica’s Asafa Powell at the Melbourne 2006 Games.
Eseme produced a sensational performance to storm to gold in a Games record and national record of 9.83 seconds, eclipsing the previous Commonwealth Games mark of 9.88 set by Trinidad and Tobago’s Ato Boldon in 1998.
Kennedy also dipped under 9.90, clocking an Australian record and personal best of 9.85 seconds to secure silver.
Ajayi’s bronze was equally significant, as he became the first Nigerian to reach the Commonwealth Games men’s 100m podium in two decades after earlier winning his semi-final in 9.94 seconds to qualify as one of the favourites.
South Africa’s Gift Leotlela finished fourth in a season’s best 9.91 seconds, while Wales’ Jeremiah Azu (10.03), Australia’s Edward Nketia (10.06), Ghana’s Benjamin Azamati (10.11) and South Africa’s Cheswill Johnson (10.13) completed the field.
