Nigerian sprinter Kanyinsola Ajayi delivered a powerful statement to the athletics world over the weekend, clocking a blistering 9.96 seconds to win the men’s 100 meters at the 2025 Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Florida.

 

The 20-year-old’s electrifying performance not only secured victory ahead of American competitors Jelani Watkins (10.03s) and T’Mars McCallum (10.04s), but also propelled him to second on the global rankings for the 2025 season.

 

Ajayi’s time is only surpassed this year by South African star Akani Simbine, who ran 9.90 seconds in Gaborone on April 12. He now shares the second-fastest mark of the season with Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake, who also posted 9.96 seconds on the same day in Kingston.

 

In addition to his world-class ranking, Ajayi has etched his name into the annals of Nigerian athletics history, becoming the country’s 14th sprinter to dip under the famed 10-second barrier. His performance signals the emergence of a new sprinting force from Africa as the 2025 athletics season heats up.