Ajayi clocks sub-10 to become world’s second-fastest

By Daily Sports Nigeria on April 21, 2025

Kanyinsola Ajayi made a powerful statement at the 2025 Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Florida, clocking 9.96s (+1.9 m/s) to win the men’s 100 metres and launch his outdoor season in emphatic fashion, The PUNCH reports.

The 20-year-old Nigerian sprinter not only set a new personal best but also delivered the fastest performance of his career on his season debut, becoming the second-fastest man in the world in 2025 so far.

Ajayi’s winning time is only bettered this season by South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who ran 9.90s (-1.4 m/s) in Gaborone on April 12 and tied with Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake, who also posted 9.96s (+1.7 m/s) in Kingston on the same day. The Nigerian now leads an elite group that includes Courtney Lindsey (USA) at 9.97s, Bayanda Walaza (RSA) at 9.99s, and Ferdinand Omanyala (KEN) with 10.00s.

The field in Gainesville featured some of the brightest collegiate and under-23 talents from the United States. Ajayi finished ahead of LSU’s Jelani Watkins (10.03s), T’Mars McCallum (10.04s), and Kalen Walker (10.06s), all of whom are considered rising stars in American sprinting. The depth of the race added weight to Ajayi’s victory, with all eight finalists posting times under 10.20s. Sam Blaskowski (10.09s), Myles Thomas (10.13s), Xavier Butler (10.15s), and Deron Dudley (10.17s) rounded out a high-quality final.

Ajayi’s performance placed him among the best Nigerian sprinters in history. He is now the 14th Nigerian man to break the 10-second barrier and becomes the 10th fastest Nigerian ever, tied with Raymond Ekevwo who also clocked 9.96s (+1.6 m/s) in 2019. The elite list he joined includes Olusoji Fasuba, Divine Oduduru, Seun Ogunkoya, Davidson Ezinwa, and Favour Ashe.

In the Nigeria’s all-time 100m rankings he joined, Fasuba leads with the national record of 9.85s (Doha 2006), followed by Oduduru’s 9.86s (Austin 2019), and Godson Brume’s 9.90s (Austin 2023). Ajayi’s sub-10 performance, especially as a season opener, suggests potential for deeper cuts into this list as the season progresses.

His result score of 1220 under World Athletics’ performance scoring system speculates the quality of the mark given the wind reading and competitive field as the score matches that of Blake’s 9.96s and surpasses the values given to other sub-10 marks this season. Among under-21 athletes globally in 2025, Ajayi’s time is currently the fastest.

 

 

Source Punch Ng

Posted April 21, 2025


 

You may also like...
W’Cup qualifiers: Osimhen out as Eagles land in...

Aguero Signs Off In Style As City Celebrate...

Real out of top four as Villarreal win...

Assault: NPFL fan gets three-month sentence

Real End La Liga Campaign with 12th League...

Sterling Not Keen On Move To Tottenham

 

Latest News U-20 W’Cup: Flying Eagles seek redemption against Saudi Garba wants more U-17 AFCON slots after Eaglets’ loss I’ll be world champion in two years — Odiase Nigerian basketball stars set for 2025/26 adventure Osimhen sets Champions League record against Liverpool From Maiyegun to Amusan: Milestones that shaped Nigeria’s 65-year sporting story Flying Eagles unlucky against Norway – Coach Olapade, Okoko shine at Lakowe Golf Classic Boniface dedicated to Bremen — Coach SAFA vows to fight Bafana’s points deduction CCL: Rivers will get better, says Finidi In-form Monday sets sights on Falcons return

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (63,193 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,379 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,353 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (51,947 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (51,946 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (51,917 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,733 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,322 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,427 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (48,985 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,428 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (46,880 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media