By Daniel Nhakaniso
Africa’s sprint revolution gathered even more momentum on Saturday as Nigeria’s rising star Kanyinsola Ajayi produced the biggest win of his career, storming to victory in the men’s 100m at the prestigious Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
The 21-year-old clocked a blistering 9.84 seconds (+0.1 m/s) to upset reigning world champion Oblique Seville of Jamaica (9.89), while American stars Christian Coleman (9.95) and Kenneth Bednarek (9.96) finished third and fourth respectively.
The victory further cements Ajayi’s status as one of Africa’s brightest sprint talents after he also captured the NCAA outdoor 100m title earlier this season.
Adding a Zimbabwean connection to his remarkable rise is the influence of renowned sprint coach Ken Harnden, who has transformed Ajayi into one of the world’s fastest men since the Nigerian joined Auburn University.
Ajayi has repeatedly paid tribute to Harnden’s impact on his career.
Earlier this year, after equalling the NCAA all-time 60m record with 6.45 seconds and setting a Nigerian national record, he celebrated by revealing the message “IN KEN WE TRUST” on the back of his race bib.
Speaking about his coach’s influence, Ajayi said:
“If Coach Ken tells me to do something and I do it, then everything is going to work out. We trust in him.”
A former Olympic sprint hurdler for Zimbabwe, Harare-born Harnden ran track for University of North Carolina before he embarked of coaching journey.
He coached at Florida State from 2003-15, then Georgia from 2015-18, then Tennessee from 2018 until he was hired by Leroy Burrell when he was assembling his staff at Auburn in 2022.
Saturday’s victory is another proud moment for African athletics, with a Nigerian sprinter guided by a Zimbabwean coach defeating some of the biggest names in world sprinting on one of the sport’s biggest stages.