Ajayi Stuns World Champion Seville To Win 100m At Prefontaine Classic

Kanyinsola Ajayi, the Nigerian sprint sensation, stunned a star-studded lineup on Saturday to win the men’s 100-meter event at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.

The 21-year-old crossed the finish line in a blistering 9.84 seconds to equal his own Nigerian national record on his debut on a Diamond League circuit.

The race, held at the iconic Hayward Field, saw Ajayi defeat Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, the reigning world champion, who finished second in 9.89 seconds.

Christian Coleman of the US secured the third position with a time of 9.95 seconds, ahead of his compatriot Kenneth Bednarek, who finished fourth in 9.96 seconds.

Despite Seville getting an excellent start out of the blocks, Ajayi’s explosive acceleration phase proved to be the difference-maker. He seized complete control of the race after the 30-meter mark and maintained his composure to wind up victorious with a +0.1 m/s tailwind.

Speaking after the historic victory, Ajayi expressed satisfaction with his performance and tactical execution.

“I feel good, I’ve been consistent. That was part of my goal. Stay on top of it all, stay consistent, come out here and do what I have to do and just execute my race. So I feel good about that,” Ajayi said.

Ajayi’s performance continues the fantastic season he is currently having, in which he is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion in both the men’s 60m indoor and 100m outdoor.

He took the NCAA title with a wind-aided 9.72-second finish, placing joint sixth with the legendary Asafa Powell on the list of the world’s fastest sprinters under all conditions. Only Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Obadele Thompson and Andre De Grasse have run faster.

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