By Dorcas Francis Koji
Nigeria’s sprint and hurdles stars Kayinsola Ajayi and Ezekiel Nathaniel both finished fourth in their respective events at the Silesia Diamond League meeting in Chorzów, Poland, on Sunday.
Ajayi clocked 9.94 seconds in the men’s 100m final after qualifying with a third-place finish in his heat. The Nigerian faced a world-class field in a fiercely contested final in which all nine athletes dipped under 10 seconds.
Jamaica’s Oblique Seville claimed victory in a meeting-record 9.83 seconds, improving on the previous mark of 9.87 seconds set by American Fred Kerley in August 2024.
American duo Kenneth Bednarek and Christian Coleman finished second and third respectively, while Ajayi crossed the line fourth.
The Nigerian finished ahead of Canada’s Andre De Grasse, South Africa’s Akani Simbine and Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme, who recorded 9.96, 9.96 and 9.99 seconds respectively.
Ajayi’s appearance in Silesia marked his return to Diamond League competition following his impressive showing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he won bronze in the 100m and silver as part of Nigeria’s 4x100m relay team.
His individual bronze also ended Nigeria’s 20-year wait for a Commonwealth Games medal in the men’s 100m, since Olusoji Fasuba’s silver in 2006.
Nathaniel also produced a strong performance in the men’s 400m hurdles, finishing fourth in 47.83 seconds.
Brazilian Alison dos Santos won the race in a world-leading 46.43 seconds, while Norway’s Karsten Warholm finished second in 46.52 and Brazil’s Matheus Lima took third in a personal best of 47.26.
Nathaniel’s fourth-place finish came in his first Diamond League appearance since his outstanding Commonwealth Games campaign.
The Nigerian won gold in Glasgow in 48.47 seconds, becoming the first Nigerian man to win the Commonwealth Games 400m hurdles title.
The Silesia meeting therefore provided both Nigerians with another opportunity to test themselves against some of the leading athletes in their respective events as they continue their preparations for the remainder of the athletics season.
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