Kanyinsola Ajayi qualified for the Tokyo 2025 World Championships men’s 100m final on Sunday, becoming the first Nigerian in the event’s final since Olusoji Fasuba back in 2007 in the same Japan but the city of Osaka.
Ajayi clocked 9.93 seconds to finish second in Heat 1 of the men’s 100m semi-finals and qualify for the final at the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships, www.aclsports.com reports. Ajayi had run a PB of 9.88s in the heat before the semi-final which was his sixth career sub-10s run.
The 21-year-old sprinter, celebrating his birthday, surged to a 9.93s finish, just behind Noah Lyles (USA, 9.92s), and ahead of a world-class field including Akani Simbine (RSA, 9.96s), Jeremiah Azu (GBR, 10.05s), Ackeem Blake (JAM, 10.12s), Lamont Marcell Jacobs (ITA, 10.16s, SB), Elvis Afrifa (NED, 10.20s), and Eliezer Adjibi (CAN).
Ajayi will now compete in the final later this week, aiming to write a new chapter in Nigerian sprinting history and inspire the next generation of athletes.
