Competing at the 2026 NCAA Division I East First Round Track and Field Championships in the United States, the 21-year-old Auburn University sprinter blazed to a stunning time of 9.84 seconds in the men's 100 metres quarter-final heat, setting a new Nigerian national record.
The remarkable run eclipsed the previous record of 9.85 seconds established by sprint legend Olusoji Fasuba in May 2006, bringing an end to one of the longest-standing marks in Nigerian athletics history.
Ajayi's record-breaking performance represents the latest chapter in a meteoric rise that has seen him emerge as one of the world's most exciting young sprinters. The Nigerian had already hinted that history was within reach after a series of outstanding performances over the past two seasons.
His breakthrough on the global stage came at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where he clocked 9.88 seconds in the heats to become the first Nigerian in 18 years to qualify for the men's 100m final. He eventually finished sixth in the final, earning widespread praise and confirming his place among the sport's elite.
Saturday's historic run has now elevated Ajayi into an even more exclusive category. Beyond becoming Nigeria's fastest man ever, his 9.84-second effort currently stands as the fastest time recorded anywhere in the world in 2026.
The performance surpassed the previous world-leading mark set earlier this week by Botswana's world 400m champion, Collen Kebinatshipi, whose impressive transition to the shorter sprint distance had captured international attention.
Ajayi's time also places him tantalisingly close to the NCAA men's 100m record of 9.82 seconds set by American sprint star Christian Coleman while representing the University of Tennessee in 2017. The Nigerian now ranks as the second-fastest collegiate athlete in United States history, underscoring the magnitude of his achievement.
The record-breaking feat is expected to boost expectations ahead of major international competitions, with many already tipping Ajayi as a strong contender for medals on the global stage.
It was not only Ajayi who delivered a historic performance for Nigeria.
Fellow sprint star Samuel Ogazi also produced a sensational display in the men's 400 metres, rewriting the national record books with a blistering run of 43.82 seconds.
Ogazi's performance saw him lower his own Nigerian record while further improving the world-leading time he had posted earlier this month. The run highlighted his growing dominance in the one-lap event and strengthened his credentials as one of the leading 400m athletes in the world.
The back-to-back record-breaking performances by Ajayi and Ogazi signal a golden period for Nigerian athletics, with a new generation of sprinters increasingly challenging the world's best and placing the country firmly back among the sport's global powerhouses.
For Nigerian athletics fans, Saturday's performances will be remembered as a landmark day—one that saw two national records fall and offered further evidence that the future of the country's sprinting programme is brighter than ever.