Kanyinsola Ajayi produced the biggest win of his career on Saturday, storming to victory in the men’s 100 metres at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, ahead of a star-studded field that included reigning world champion Oblique Seville.
The 21-year-old Nigerian matched his own national record with a blistering time of 9.84 seconds in his Diamond League debut.
Racing at the iconic Hayward Field, Ajayi recovered from a slower start to overtake Seville after the opening metres and maintain his lead through the finish. Seville settled for second in 9.89 seconds, while American Christian Coleman finished third in 9.95 seconds. Fellow American Kenneth Bednarek was fourth in 9.96 seconds.
Seville burst out of the blocks quickest, but Ajayi accelerated powerfully after the 30-metre mark and never looked back, crossing the line first with a legal tailwind of +0.1m/s.
Reacting to the victory, Ajayi said his focus this season has been on maintaining consistency.
“I feel good. I’ve been consistent. That was part of my goal—to stay on top of it all, stay consistent, come out here, do what I have to do and execute my race. So I feel good about that,” he said.
The triumph caps a remarkable season for the Nigerian sprint sensation, who has already claimed both the NCAA men’s 60 metres indoor title and the 100 metres outdoor championship.
Ajayi also captured the NCAA outdoor crown in a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds, a performance that placed him joint sixth on the all-conditions list of the fastest men’s 100m times in history alongside Asafa Powell. Only Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Obadele Thompson and Andre De Grasse have recorded faster times under all conditions.
