Nigerian Olympic Sprinter, Kayinsola Ajayi delivered a record breaking performance on Saturday, storming to a blistering 9.96 seconds (1.9 m/s) to win the men’s 100m at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational.

This is Kayinsola’s first-ever sub-10-second clocking and catapulting him into Nigeria’s sprinting elite as the 10th fastest man in the nation’s history.

Ajayi’s stunning opener saw him outpace a highly competitive field, including LSU’s Jelani Watkins (10.03s) and T’Mars McCallum (10.04s), in a race that underscored his arrival on the global sprinting stage.

Sub-10 Club: Ajayi Joins Sprinting Royalty

With his 9.96s performance, the Auburn Tigers star now stands alongside Nigeria’s most accomplished sprinters, including Olusoji Fasuba (9.85s), Divine Oduduru (9.86s), and Enoch Adegoke (9.98s).

His new personal best also positions him as a legitimate contender heading into a packed 2025 season featuring the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.

From Paris 2024 to Gainesville Glory

Ajayi’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. He won Nigeria’s national 100m title in 2024, and stunned the athletics world when he defeated Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs in the heats at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Earlier this year, he equaled the Nigerian indoor 60m national record with 6.48 seconds at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Saturday’s race at the Tom Jones Memorial—a meet known for world-class times and elite matchups—only reinforced the 22-year-old’s reputation as one of the most exciting young sprinters in global athletics.

Eyes on the Prize: A Season Full of Promise

With the season still in its early stages, Ajayi’s 9.96s performance sets a bold tone for the months ahead.

The time is not just a personal milestone but a qualifying standard for global events, including the World Championships and possibly the Diamond League circuit.