Olayinka Olajide produced a headline performance at the Texas Relays, clocking a new personal best of 11.13 seconds (+1.9 m/s) in the women’s 100m to set the fastest time by an African athlete so far in 2026.
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The Nigerian sprinter delivered her impressive run in the heats, shaving 0.02 seconds off her previous lifetime best. Her performance was enough to secure a second-place finish behind American athlete Page Rasmussen, who also posted a personal best of 11.06 seconds to win the heat.
Despite narrowly missing out on top spot, Olajide’s time stands out as a significant milestone early in the outdoor season.
Running into a legal tailwind of +1.9 m/s, she demonstrated strong acceleration and top-end speed, holding her form through the final meters against a competitive field.
The result continues a promising trend for Olajide, who has shown steady improvement in recent outings. By lowering her personal best and emerging as Africa’s current leader in the event, she has positioned herself firmly among the continent’s top sprint prospects this season.
Her performance at the Texas Relays not only highlights her individual progress but also reinforces Nigeria’s growing strength in women’s sprinting.
With several international meets still ahead, attention will now shift to whether she can maintain this upward trajectory and challenge for podium finishes at higher-profile competitions.
For Olajide, the early-season statement is clear—she is not just competing; she is evolving. If her current form is sustained, further improvements and potentially faster times could be on the horizon as the season unfolds.
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