When the London Diamond League takes place on Saturday, Reigning world 100m champion Oblique Seville and Kayinsola Ajayi will be running in their fourth instalment of a growing rivalry no one ever thought mattered two years ago.
Nigeria’s rising sensation, Ajayi, heads into the meeting on the back of a stunning upset at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, where he defeated Seville in a blistering 9.84 seconds.
The Jamaican crossed the line in 9.89 seconds, handing the Nigerian one of the biggest victories of his career.
The result also gave the NCAA champion Ajayi a 2-1 advantage in their head-to-head meetings, which started at the world championships.
Origin Of The Ajayi, Seville Rivalry
Their rivalry began at the World Championships in Tokyo, where Ajayi edged Seville in the heats, clocking 9.88 seconds to Seville’s 9.93.
However, Seville had the final say when it mattered most, storming to the world title in a personal best of 9.77 seconds, while Ajayi finished sixth in the final.
Ajayi responded in style in Eugene, beating the world champion once again to throw the rivalry wide open and announce himself as one of the fastest men in the world this season.
London Diamond League Showdown
With another showdown set for London, the spotlight will once again be on the pair as Seville seeks to balance the scales and Ajayi aims to prove that his victory in Eugene was no fluke.
The race promises to be one of the highlights of the Diamond League meeting, with fans eager to see whether the Jamaican world champion can reassert his dominance or if Nigeria’s emerging sprint star will continue his impressive rise on the global stage.
