Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi and Israel Okon have both advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 100m at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Ajayi, making his World Championships debut, produced the performance of his career so far, clocking a blistering Personal Best of 9.88s in Heat 1. The time makes him the third-fastest Nigerian ever and the 10th fastest African in history. It also extended his tally of sub-10-second runs this season to five the most by a Nigerian in a single year, equalling the country’s all-time career record. He placed second in his heat behind South Africa’s Gift Leotlela (9.87s), with Jamaica’s Oblique Seville close behind in 9.93s.

Okon, competing in his first senior global championship, showed nerves of steel to win Heat 6 in 10.04s. He crossed the line ahead of Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy (10.20s) and Britain’s Zharnel Hughes (10.06s). Afterwards, the confident youngster declared: “I’m not scared of anyone. I have two legs. They all have two legs.”

Both sprinters return to the track on Sunday, September 14, for the semifinals. Ajayi has been drawn in Heat 1, where he will face a stacked field, including Noah Lyles (USA), Marcell Jacobs (Italy), and Akani Simbine (South Africa).

Okon will contest Heat 3 against top names such as Andre De Grasse (Canada), Letsile Tebogo (Botswana), Gift Leotlela (South Africa), and Oblique Seville (Jamaica).

With Ajayi in record-breaking form and Okon brimming with confidence, Nigeria’s hopes for a place in the men’s 100m final remain firmly alive in Tokyo.