Nigerian sprint star Kanyinsola Ajayi has etched his name into the history books after setting a new national record in the men’s 100 metres at the 2026 NCAA Division I East First Round track and field meet in the United States.
The 21-year-old Auburn University athlete stormed to victory in one of the quarter-final heats with a remarkable time of 9.84 seconds, securing qualification for the NCAA Championships and breaking a Nigerian record that had stood for nearly 20 years.
Ajayi’s time of 9.84 seconds, achieved with a legal wind reading of 0.4m/s, surpassed the previous national record of 9.85 seconds set by Olusoji Fasuba in 2006.
The feat also elevates Ajayi to the top of the global rankings for 2026, making him the fastest man in the world this year.
His performance eclipses the previous world-leading mark set earlier in the week by Collen Kebinatshipi, the reigning Botswana 400m world champion, who had briefly captured international attention with an impressive run over the 100m distance.
Speaking after the race in an interview with Making of Champions, an emotional Ajayi credited his coach, preparation, and faith for the historic achievement.
“My coach told me what to do. I knew I was in good shape, so I just had to come here and execute,” he said.
Reflecting on his record-breaking run, Ajayi described the achievement as the fulfilment of a long-held dream.
“I’ve always been dreaming about it. God made it happen, so I’m very grateful to God,” he added.
The performance further strengthens Nigeria’s growing reputation in global sprinting and positions Ajayi as one of the leading contenders to watch ahead of major international competitions later this year.