Ajayi Reaches Silesia 100m Final, Keeps Brussels Hopes Alive
Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi has stormed into the 100m final at the Silesia Diamond League after finishing third in his semi-final heat to secure one of the three automatic qualifying spots.
Ajayi clocked 10.07 seconds, the same time as Canada’s Andre De Grasse, who finished second, while American Kenneth Bednarek won the heat in 10.03 seconds.
Reigning Commonwealth Games champion Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon also ran 10.07 to finish fourth but advanced as one of the three fastest non-automatic qualifiers.
In the opening semi-final, reigning World champion Seville Oblique of Jamaica produced the fastest time of the round, winning in 9.90 seconds.
South Africans Gift Leotlela and Akani Simbine followed in 9.92 and 9.93 respectively to claim the other automatic qualification places, while Americans Christian Coleman and Ronnie Baker secured the remaining non-automatic tickets after both clocking 9.94.
Ajayi will now line up in the final later today, knowing that victory could be crucial to his hopes of reaching the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels next month.
The Nigerian, who has already won the last two Diamond League 100m races, needs another strong performance in Silesia to keep alive his hopes of making it three wins in a row and securing his place among the finalists in Brussels.
