Nigerian sprint sensation Kanyinsola Ajayi has made history after breaking the men’s 100m national record at the 2026 NCAA Division I East First Round Track and Field Championships in the United States.
The 21-year-old Auburn University athlete clocked an astonishing 9.84 seconds in a quarter-final heat in the early hours of Saturday to qualify for the NCAA Championships and erase a record that had stood for nearly two decades.
Ajayi’s time of 9.84 seconds (0.4m/s) eclipsed the previous Nigerian national record of 9.85 seconds set by Olusoji Fasuba in 2006.
The remarkable performance also makes Ajayi the fastest man in the world so far in 2026, surpassing the previous world-leading mark set earlier this week by Botswana’s 400m world champion, Collen Kebinatshipi, who had drawn global attention with an impressive run over the shorter distance.
Speaking after the race in an interview with Making of Champions, an emotional Ajayi attributed the achievement to his preparation, trust in his coach, and faith in God.
“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 breaking Fasuba’s long-standing national record, Ajayi added: “I’ve always been dreaming about it. God made it happen, so I’m very grateful to God.”
The historic run further cements Ajayi’s status as one of Nigeria’s brightest sprint prospects and strengthens his credentials ahead of the NCAA Championships and future international competitions.
