Kanyinsola Ajayi Runs 9.97s, Wins Bronze at 2026 Diamond League Final
Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi has capped a remarkable 2026 season with a bronze medal in the men’s 100m at the Diamond League Final in Brussels.
Ajayi clocked an impressive 9.97 seconds at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme on Friday night to finish third in a highly competitive final.
Jamaica’s Oblique Seville won the Diamond League 100m title after crossing the line in 9.90 seconds, while Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme claimed silver in 9.93 seconds.
Ajayi’s 9.97s secured the final podium position and saw him finish ahead of Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy, who ran 9.99 seconds.
South Africa’s Gift Leotlela and American sprint star Christian Coleman both recorded 10.01 seconds to finish fifth and sixth respectively.
Ajayi Continues Sub-10 Sprint Form
The Brussels performance adds another sub-10-second clocking to what has been a breakthrough season for the Nigerian sprinter.
Ajayi earlier shattered the Nigerian men’s 100m record with a sensational 9.84 seconds at the NCAA East Regional Championships.
He subsequently claimed the NCAA Outdoor 100m title, further establishing himself as one of the fastest sprinters in Nigerian athletics.
His latest performance in Brussels underlines his consistency at the highest level and provides a strong finish to his Diamond League campaign.
At just the beginning of his senior international career, Ajayi’s continued progression has raised expectations around Nigeria’s sprint prospects ahead of major global competitions.
The 9.97-second run and bronze medal in Brussels represent another significant milestone for the Nigerian speedster, who continues to make his mark against the world’s elite sprinters.
