Nigeria’s fastest man of the moment, Kanyinsola Ajayi, has revealed that consistency, not just speed, is now his biggest ambition after announcing himself on the global stage with a stunning victory at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon.
The 21-year-old sprint sensation produced the performance of his career by clocking a blistering 9.84 seconds, equalling the Nigerian 100m record on his Diamond League debut and defeating a world-class field that included reigning world champion Oblique Seville and former world champion Christian Coleman.
The victory confirmed Ajayi’s emergence as one of the world’s elite sprinters and strengthened Nigeria’s hopes ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the 2027 World Athletics Championships.
“Consistency is my biggest goal. I know what I’m capable of, and I want to keep performing at this level every time I step onto the track,” Ajayi said.
The former Auburn University standout credited his remarkable transition into professional athletics to the experience gained during a demanding NCAA season, describing collegiate competition in the United States as the ideal preparation for competing against the world’s fastest men.
Ajayi admitted he arrived in Eugene full of confidence after a successful collegiate campaign and believes that experience has helped him cope with the pressure of elite international competition.
“The NCAA prepared me for moments like this. Racing against top athletes every week gave me the confidence to compete on the professional stage,” he added.
Despite his record-equalling performance, Ajayi insists he is far from satisfied, revealing that his priority is to remain healthy, continue trusting his coach and keep improving every aspect of his sprinting.
With the Commonwealth Games fast approaching and the World Athletics Championships on the horizon, the Nigerian sprint star believes consistency will be the key to transforming his breakthrough season into sustained global success.
Already regarded as one of Africa’s brightest athletics prospects, Ajayi’s latest performance has further established him as a genuine medal contender on the international stage and one of the athletes expected to spearhead Nigeria’s sprint resurgence in the years ahead.
