Nigeria’s sprinting sensations Kanyisola Ajayi and Okon pursue record, history at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo to book their spots in the men’s 100m semifinals.
Later this evening in Tokyo, two young Nigerian athletes will compete in the men’s 100m semifinals, hoping to make the final.
Ajayi, Okon Pursue Record, History
On his World Championships debut, Ajayi produced one of the night’s standout moments, clocking an impressive 9.88s in his heat to smash his Personal Best (PB).
Ajayi placed second in his heat behind South Africa’s Gift Leotlela, who also set a new PB of 9.87s, with Jamaica’s Oblique Seville taking third in 9.93s.
Also, he becomes the fastest Nigerian man in the 100m at the World Championships.
Similarly, Ajayi becomes the third-fastest Nigerian sprinter of all time behind Olusoji Fasuba (9.85s) and Divine Oduduru (9.86s).
The 21-year-old has also etched his name further in history, recording five sub-10s this season, the most by any Nigerian in a single year, and tying the all-time national record for most sub-10s in a career.
Okon’s Impressive Debut
Meanwhile, debutant Israel Okon Sunday showed off in his first senior global outing, storming to victory in his heat with a time of 10.04s.
Okon beat Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes (10.06s) and reigning Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs (10.20s), who won gold at the same venue four years ago.
The men’s 100m semifinals are set to be a thriller, with Ajayi lining up against Noah Lyles, Akani Simbine, Ackeem Blake, and Jacobs in Semi 1.
Okon faces Oblique Seville, Letsile Tebogo, Leotlela, Courtney Lindsey, Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, Romell Glave, and Andre De Grasse in Semi 3.
Olusoji Fasuba remains the last Nigerian athlete to make the final of the 100m at the World Championships. That might change this evening, as it might not be the only record that could go.
Kanyinsola Ajayi will seek to take down Fasuba’s 9.85s Nigerian Record, while Israel Okon will seek to run below 10s.
