Ajayi Eyes Historic World Rankings Milestone at London Diamond League
Auburn University Junior Could Become First Nigerian Man to Reach World Athletics Top Three Since Rankings Began
Nigeria’s sprint star Kanyinsola Ajayi will have the opportunity to make history at this weekend’s London Diamond League as he targets a rise into the top three of the World Athletics men’s 100m rankings.
Currently ranked fifth in the world with 1,340 ranking points, Ajayi heads into one of the season’s biggest one-day meetings with a realistic chance of climbing above Americans Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek, who occupy third and fourth places with 1,378 and 1,370 points respectively.
Neither athlete is scheduled to compete in London, leaving the Nigerian with a valuable opportunity to close the gap.
If successful, Ajayi would become the first Nigerian man to break into the top three of the World Athletics rankings in any track and field discipline since the governing body introduced the rankings system in 2019.
Only two Nigerian athletes have previously reached the top three of the World Athletics rankings, and both are women.
World record holder Tobi Amusan climbed to world No. 1 in the women’s 100m hurdles during her illustrious career and is currently ranked second in the event. Long jumper Ese Brume also reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2 in the women’s long jump, making her one of Nigeria’s highest-ranked field athletes in the rankings era.
Ajayi now has the opportunity to join that elite company while becoming the first Nigerian male athlete to achieve the feat.
The World Athletics ranking system is based on an athlete’s best performances over a designated period, with points awarded according to both finishing position and performance quality. Diamond League meetings offer some of the highest ranking points outside global championships, making Saturday’s race especially significant.
To move ahead of Lyles and Bednarek, Ajayi will need to produce one of the highest-scoring performances of his career. Victory in London, coupled with a world-class time, would significantly improve his ranking average and could be enough to propel him into third place when the rankings are updated.
Ajayi has enjoyed a breakthrough season, establishing himself among the world’s elite sprinters and consistently challenging some of the biggest names in the event.
A strong performance in London would not only strengthen his credentials ahead of the season’s major championships but could also secure his place in Nigerian athletics history.
With Lyles and Bednarek absent from the London meeting, the stage is set for Ajayi to capitalize on a rare opportunity and become the first Nigerian man to enter the top three of the World Athletics rankings since the system was introduced in 2019.
