World Athletics Ultimate Championships: Ajayi Earns $25,000, Equals Fasuba’s Historic Fourth-Place Finish

Kanyinsola Ajayi earned $25,000 for finishing fourth in the men’s 100m final at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday.

The Nigerian clocked 9.93 seconds to finish fourth in a tightly contested final won by American Kenneth Bednarek in 9.85 seconds. Jamaica’s Oblique Seville was second in 9.90, while American Ronnie Baker took bronze in 9.93.

Ajayi’s fourth-place finish also saw him equal Nigeria’s best-ever placing in the men’s 100m at a global World Athletics championship or Games.

Olusoji Fasuba, whose 20-year-old Nigerian record of 9.85 seconds Ajayi broke earlier this year, finished fourth in the 100m final at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Fasuba’s fourth-place finish had remained Nigeria’s highest placing in the blue-riband event at a global championship or Games until Ajayi matched the feat in Budapest.

The 25-year-old Nigerian, who has emerged as one of the country’s leading sprint hopes, will now turn his attention to next year’s World Championships in Beijing, China.

Ajayi will be hoping to go one better in Beijing and make history by becoming the first Nigerian athlete, male or female, to win a global championship or Games 100m title.