Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi and Tobi Amusan spearheaded a series of outstanding performances by African athletes at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic, as competitors from Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya and Ghana impressed against some of the world’s finest in Eugene, Oregon, Saturday’s night.
Ajayi delivered the performance of the day for Nigeria, storming to victory in the men’s 100m with a blistering 9.84 seconds. The sprint star finished ahead of Jamaica’s Oblique Seville (9.89s) and American Kenneth Bednarek (9.95s), further cementing his status among the fastest men in the world this season.
Amusan also produced an encouraging display in the women’s 100m hurdles, clocking 12.34 seconds to finish second behind American Masai Russell, whose world-leading 12.24s secured victory. The Nigerian comfortably held off Bahamian Devynne Charlton, who claimed third in 12.41s.
In the women’s 100m, Favour Ofili placed eighth in a high-calibre field, crossing the finish line in 11.07 seconds. American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden claimed victory in 10.78s, narrowly edging compatriot Sha’Carri Richardson, who finished in 10.79s.
Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel finished eighth in the men’s 400m with a time of 45.32 seconds. The race was won by Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, whose impressive 44.00s saw him hold off American Olympic champion Rai Benjamin (44.11s).
Botswana enjoyed further success through reigning sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo, who recorded a season’s best 19.93s to finish second in the men’s 200m behind American Tate Taylor, who triumphed in 19.75s.
Kenya also celebrated a memorable victory as Lilian Odira claimed the women’s 800m title in 1:56.19, fending off Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson (1:56.73) and American Addison Wiley (1:57.70). The triumph reinforced Kenya’s enduring dominance in middle-distance running.
Ghana’s representatives also held their own in the men’s 100m, with Abdul-Rasheed Saminu finishing seventh in 10.15s, while Joseph Paul Amoah placed ninth in 10.19s in one of the strongest sprint fields of the season.
The performances from athletes representing Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya and Ghana underlined Africa’s growing strength in global athletics, with victories and podium finishes across the sprints, hurdles and middle-distance events providing an encouraging boost ahead of the season’s major championships.
