Ajayi Kanyinsola defeats world champion Seville to win 100m at Prefontaine Classic

Kanyinsola Ajayi delivered a stunning performance on Saturday to win the men's 100 metres at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, defeating a field that included reigning world champion Oblique Seville.

The 21-year-old Nigerian clocked 9.84 seconds to equal his own national record in his debut appearance on the Diamond League circuit.

Competing at Hayward Field, Ajayi powered past Seville after the opening stages of the race to secure victory. The Jamaican finished second in 9.89 seconds, while American sprinter Christian Coleman claimed third place in 9.95 seconds. Fellow American Kenneth Bednarek placed fourth with a time of 9.96 seconds.

Although Seville made the stronger start, Ajayi surged into the lead after the 30-metre mark and held off the chasing pack to cross the finish line first with a legal tailwind of +0.1m/s.

Speaking after the race, Ajayi said the victory reflected the consistency he had targeted throughout the season. “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.” The victory continues an outstanding campaign for the Nigerian sprinter, who has already won the National Collegiate Athletic Association men's 60 metres indoor and 100 metres outdoor titles this season.

Ajayi claimed the NCAA outdoor crown in a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds, a performance that placed him joint sixth alongside Asafa Powell on the all-conditions list of the world's fastest men's 100m performers. Only Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Obadele Thompson and Andre De Grasse have recorded faster times under all conditions.