Kayinsola Ajayi
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| Nationality | Nigerian | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 14 September 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Event | Sprint | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Kanyinsola Ajayiⓘ (born 14 September 2004) is a Nigerian sprinter. He is the African record holder over 60 metres and became Nigerian national champion in the 100 metres in 2024. Competing in the United States he won the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships over 60 metres.[1]
Career
From Ikorodu, he won both sprints at the 2021 Maltina School Games and set a personal best of 10.26 seconds for the 100 metres at the second AFN All-Comers meet at Yabatech Sports Center in 2022.[2] He competed at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.[3]
He won a gold medal in the 100 metres at the 2023 African Athletics U20 Championships in Ndola, Zambia.[4] At that championships he also won a gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay.[5][6]
He became Nigerian national champion in the 100 metres in June 2024.[7] He finished fourth in the 100 metres at the African Championships in Douala, Cameroon that month.[8] At that championships, he won a silver medal in the 4 × 100 m relay.[9]
He competed in the 100 metres at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he reached the semi-finals.[10][11] He also competed in the men's 4 × 100 m relay at the Games.[12]
He lowered his 60 metres personal best to 6.48 seconds at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships.[13] He ran 6.52 seconds to finish second in the men’s 60m final on 15 March 2025, in Virginia Beach.[14]
In September 2025, he was a finalist in the 100 metres at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, lowering his personal best to 9.88 seconds and placing sixth in the final in 10.00 seconds.[15][16]
In February 2026, Ajayi tied Christian Coleman's collegiate record for the 60 metres, running 6.45 seconds to win the SEC Indoor Championships ahead of Jelani Watkins.[17] On 14 March, he ran 6.45 seconds again to equal his African record and win the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville ahead of Jelani Watkins.[18][19]
Personal life
He attends Auburn University in the United States.[20]
References
- ^ "Kayinsola Ajayi". World Athletics. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Meet Kanyinsola Ajayi, the new speedster gunning to break into the 'Big 5' of Nigeria's top sprinters". Pulsesports.ng. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "World Athletics U20 Championships". World Athletics. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "African U18 and U20 Championships: Godbless and Ajayi sprint to 100m titles on Day 2". Pulsesports.ng. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Eyes on Ogazi, Okwose as AFN Golden League berths In Uyo". Newsexpressngr.com. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "African Athletics U20 Championships". World Athletics. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Kanyinsola Ajayi Claims National 100m Title at 2024 Nigeria Olympic Trials, Crowned New Speed Champion". NewsDigest. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Ajayi and Olajide fall short in the 100m men's and women's finals". Brilla.net. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Nigeria's men's 4x100m team bag Silver at 2024 African Championships!". Makimg of Champions. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Men's 100 Metres - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics". Watch Athletics. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ "AFN lists 35 track-and-field athletes for Olympics". punchng.com. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ "Men's 4 x 100 Metres Relay - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics". Watch Athletics. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ "Five Tigers advance to finals of NCAA Championships". BVM Sports. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Jacks, Bradley (15 March 2025). "Northern Colorado's Jerome Campbell produces personal best 7.49 for silver in men's 60m hurdles at NCAA Indoor Championships". SportsMax. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ "World Athletics Championships, Tokyo 2025". World Athletics. 18 Sep 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ Adebayo, Olusola (31 August 2025). "Amusan, Brumen, In as AFN Unveils 15-Man Squad for World Athletics Championships, Ofili Missing". Bluewin.ch. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ "ARKANSAS MEN, FLORIDA WOMEN HOIST TROPHIES AT SEC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS". Runnerspace. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ Gault, Jonathan (March 15, 2026). "NCAA Indoor men: Colin Sahlman wins controversial 3000 via DQ, as sprint records fall". Lets Run. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ^ "Kaalund and Tharp threaten world records at NCAA Indoor Championships". World Athletics. 14 March 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ^ "2024 Nigeria Olympic Trials: Kanyinsola Ajayi wins National 100m title in Benin, emerging as the new speed champion". Pulsesports. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.