Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi delivered the biggest win of his career on Saturday, defeating reigning world champion Oblique Seville to claim the men’s 100m title at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
The 21-year-old clocked an impressive 9.84 seconds in the non-Diamond League race at Hayward Field, pulling away from a world-class field to underline his status as one of the fastest sprinters this season.
Seville finished second in 9.89 seconds, while American Olympian Christian Coleman placed third in 9.95 seconds, narrowly ahead of compatriot Kenneth Bednarek, who crossed in 9.96 seconds.
The victory capped another outstanding performance by the Nigerian, who recently won the men’s 100m title at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
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.
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.