Ajayi won Heat 5 in 10.02s, beating Olympics champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs into second position
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi and his compatriot, Favour Ashe on Saturday booked their places in the men’s 100m semi-finals at the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics.
The two athletes are making their debut at the Olympic Games.
Ajayi qualified with 10.02s, winning Heat 5 and beating Olympics champion, Lamont Marcell Jacobs, who came second with 10.05s in the process.
Ghana’s Abdul-Rasheed Saminu came third in a time of 10.06s.
ALSO READ: Alfred makes history, wins Paris Olympics’ 100m gold for St Lucia
Ashe on the other hand, finished fourth in Heat 4 behind Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown and Thailand’s Thurpool Bonboon.
He, however, sealed his place in the semis after grabbing the last non-automatic spot.
Meanwhile, St Lucia’s Julien Alfred made history as the first Olympic medallist for her country after clinching the women’s 100m title at the Paris 2024 games in an emphatic style.
Speaking after the enviable feat, she said: “I’m thinking of God [and] my dad, who didn’t get to see me.
“He passed away in 2013. Dad, this is for you. I miss you. I did it for him, I did it for my coach and God.”
