By Sport Analyst
Emmanuel Afonja
Nigeria’s rising sprint star, Kayinsola Ajayi, has stormed into the men’s 100 metres final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, signaling a new era for Nigerian athletics on the global stage.
Competing in the semi-finals on Sunday, Ajayi delivered a blistering performance, clocking 9.93 seconds to finish second in his heat. He trailed only the defending world champion, Noah Lyles of the United States, who crossed the line in 9.92 seconds. South Africa’s seasoned sprinter Akani Simbine also advanced, finishing third in 9.96 seconds.
Ajayi’s progression was particularly remarkable as he outshone some of the sport’s more established names, including Olympic gold medalist Marcell Jacobs of Italy, who failed to qualify after finishing a disappointing sixth in his semi-final.
Elsewhere, the competition produced equally tight finishes. Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson stormed to victory in his heat with 9.85 seconds, edging American Kenny Bednarek, while fellow Jamaican Oblique Seville won his race in 9.86 seconds ahead of Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (9.94 seconds). South Africa’s Gift Leotlela secured the last spot in the final as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers, finishing in 9.97 seconds.
With Ajayi’s qualification, Nigeria now has a seat at the table in one of the most prestigious events of the Championships. His presence in the final not only boosts national pride but also underscores the growing influence of African sprinters in world athletics.
The men’s 100m final promises to be a showdown of speed, featuring Lyles, Thompson, Tebogo, Seville, Simbine, Leotlela, and Nigeria’s Ajayi, as they battle for supremacy on the track in Tokyo.
