Kanyinsola Ajayi and Israel Okon have successfully advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 100m event at the World Athletics Championships currently underway in Tokyo, Japan.
Ajayi clocked an impressive 9.88 seconds, marking both a personal best and a season record, just 0.02 seconds short of the national record held by Olusoji Fasugba. He finished second in his heat, narrowly behind South Africa’s Gift Leotlela, who achieved a time of 9.87 seconds.
Israel Okon also secured his place in the semifinals, winning heat 6 with a time of 10.04 seconds.
In the men’s shot put final, Chukwuebuka Cornnell Enekwechi faced disappointment, finishing fifth with a throw of 21.52 metres. The gold medal was claimed by America’s Ryan Crouser, who achieved a notable distance of 22.34 metres, followed by Uziel Muñoz and Leonardo Fabbri.
In contrast, Nigeria’s hopes for success dimmed as long jumpers Ese Brume and Prestina Ochonogor exited the competition without making the finals. Ochonogor recorded a disappointing jump of 6.05 metres, significantly below her season best of 6.67 metres, set at the Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Arlington, Texas.
Ese Brume, a prominent figure in African athletics and a decorated long jumper, was unable to replicate her previous successful performances. She managed a leap of only 6.46 metres, falling short of the form that brought her silver in Eugene, Oregon, and gold in both Accra and Douala last year.
In late June 2025, she had marked her season’s best jump of 6.79 metres at the MVA HP and Para – Born to Run Invite in Chula Vista, California, just short of the African record of 7.17 metres.
Egypt’s Esraa Owis sealed the final spot in the long jump finals with a jump of 6.60 metres, leaving the Nigerian duo to reflect on an underwhelming outing at the championships.
