Commonwealth Games: Ajayi finishes with bronze in men’s 100m final
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Nigeria's Kanyinsola Ajayi won the bronze medal in the men's 100m final at the Commonwealth Games.
- The race was run in torrential rain, with Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme claiming gold in a new Games record time.
- Ajayi's medal marks Nigeria's first in the event at these championships.
Nigeria's Kanyinsola Ajayi secured the bronze medal in the men's 100m final at the Commonwealth Games, finishing third in a highly competitive race held under challenging torrential rain conditions.
Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme stormed to victory, setting a new Commonwealth Games record with a time of 9.83 seconds. Australia's Lachlan Kennedy surprisingly took the silver medal. Ajayi's strong performance earned Nigeria its first medal in the prestigious blue-riband event at the championships.
That was a crazy race! I’m surprised at the time.
The final took place amidst heavy rain, creating difficult conditions for all competitors. Despite the weather, Eseme's commanding run proved decisive. Ajayi managed to hold on for a well-deserved third place, adding to Nigeria's growing medal tally.
Eseme, who only began track and field eight years ago at the age of 32, expressed surprise at his own performance and time. "That was a crazy race! I’m surprised at the time," he said. "The weather I didn’t want to be a setback, because we’re all competing in the same environment, so I can’t have a complaint." His winning time surpassed the previous Games record set 28 years ago by Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago in Kuala Lumpur.
The weather I didn’t want to be a setback, because we’re all competing in the same environment, so I can’t have a complaint.
Originally published by Vanguard. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.