NIGERIAN sprinter Kayinsola Ajayi began his Diamond League journey with a stunning victory in the men’s 100m in Oregon, United States of America, last night.
Making his debut at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League in Eugene, the 21-year-old won his race in an equal Nigerian record of 9.84 seconds, defeating a world-class field that included Oblique Seville of Jamaica and American sprint star Christian Coleman.
Seville finished second in 9.89s, while former world champion Coleman was third in 9.95s.
Ajayi arrived in Eugene on the back of a breakthrough NCAA season in the United States.
Earlier in June, the Auburn University sprinter became Nigeria’s fastest man in history after running a legal 9.84 seconds to erase Olusoji Fasuba’s long-standing national record of 9.85 seconds, set in 2006.
He followed that up by winning the NCAA men’s 100m title in 9.72 seconds, although an illegal tailwind aided the performance.
Against a field packed with Olympic and World Championship medallists last night, Ajayi showed no signs of intimidation, producing another flawless race to equal his national record under legal wind conditions (+0.1m/s).
The victory immediately establishes him as a genuine contender on the Diamond League circuit ahead of the major championships later this year.
World record holder Tobi Amusan also produced another fine performance in Eugene, finishing second in the women’s 100m hurdles.
The Nigerian star clocked 12.34 seconds to finish behind American Masai Russell, who won in 12.24 seconds. Bahamian Devynne Charlton completed the podium in 12.41 seconds.
Although she missed out on victory, Amusan once again demonstrated the consistency that has defined her 2026 campaign. The former world champion has already won Diamond League titles in Rabat and Paris this season while repeatedly running world-class times of 12.28 seconds.
