Nigeria’s sprint revolution gathered even more pace on Saturday as 21-year-old Kanyinsola Ajayi stunned a world-class field to win the men’s 100m at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.

In a statement victory, the Nigerian outran reigning world champion Oblique Seville to announce himself among the world’s elite sprinters.

Ajayi blazed to the finish in a remarkable 9.84 seconds at Hayward Field, securing the biggest victory of his career and recording the second-fastest time in the world this season.

The triumph came just weeks after he claimed the NCAA outdoor title, capping another milestone in the young Nigerian’s rapid rise on the global athletics stage.

Although Seville exploded out of the blocks, Ajayi quickly found his rhythm, overtaking the Jamaican before the halfway point and maintaining his lead to the finish. His 9.84-second run is the second-fastest time recorded this season, behind only Seville’s 9.82.

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Speaking after the race, Ajayi said he was pleased that his consistent performances this season had continued on one of the sport’s biggest stages. He added that his goal was simply to execute his race plan, a strategy he believes paid off.

Seville admitted he was not at his best but took encouragement from the fact that he came through the race healthy as he continues his preparations for the major championships later this season.

Bednarek, meanwhile, was far more critical of his own performance. The American, who recently won the 100m at the 2026 LA Grand Prix, said he failed to accelerate properly from the start and paid the price against such a strong field. He acknowledged that even small mistakes are costly when racing against the world’s best sprinters.

Ajayi’s latest victory adds further momentum to a breakthrough season that has established him among the leading contenders in global sprinting.