Ajayi Gets Special Yabatech Honour as Athletic Heat Names 100m Showdown After Sprint Star
Nigeria’s national 100m record holder Ajayi Kayinsola will receive a special honour at Athletic Heat’s 10th Anniversary Meet, with the men’s blue-riband event named after the Nigerian sprint star.
The men’s 100m will be contested as the Ajayi Kayinsola 100m Showdown when athletes converge on the Yabatech Sports Complex in Lagos on November 7, 2026.
The honour carries particular significance for Ajayi because of his strong connection with the Yabatech track, where he took some of his early steps in athletics and produced some of his notable performances as a developing sprinter.
His progression at the venue is reflected in his performances over the years. Ajayi ran 10.92 seconds at Yabatech on June 27, 2021, before returning to the same track less than a year later to clock a major personal breakthrough of 10.26 seconds with a +0.5m/s wind on April 28, 2022.
The performances underline the importance of Yabatech in Ajayi’s development, from the 10.92 run in 2021 to the significant improvement to 10.26 seconds the following year.
Ajayi returned to the venue for the unveiling ahead of the anniversary meet and used the occasion to announce his own contribution to the development of athletics.
The sprint star will provide cash prizes for the top eight finishers in the men’s 100m, giving athletes an additional incentive to compete in the headline event.
Athletic Heat CEO Ese Oguma described Ajayi as a natural choice for the honour, citing both his achievements and his history with the venue.
‘I’m very happy to have Ajayi Kayinsola named after this event. I didn’t see anyone else who could fit this title, not just because he is the national record holder, but also because of his connection to this track,’ Oguma said.
‘Ajayi and I trained under Coach David Sule/Arena Academy on this track, and I’m glad to see how far he has grown.’
Oguma also expressed appreciation to Ajayi for his decision to support the athletes competing in the race.
‘I would also like to say a big thank you for his donation, as there hasn’t been any competition in Nigeria in recent years where the Top 8 are awarded. So it’s a great development and a boost for the athletes,’ he added.
The tribute comes in a standout year for Ajayi, whose performances in 2026 have strengthened his position among Nigeria’s leading sprinters and brought renewed attention to the country’s men’s 100m event.
His connection with Yabatech makes the honour particularly fitting, having developed on the same track before progressing to the international stage and becoming Nigeria’s national record holder.
The Athletic Heat 10th Anniversary Meet is expected to bring together some of Nigeria’s leading athletes as the organisation celebrates a decade of contribution to athletics.
Athletic Heat said more event names and athlete tributes are expected to be announced ahead of the anniversary celebration.
The 10th Anniversary Meet will hold on November 7, 2026, at the Yabatech Sports Complex in Lagos.
