RUNNING A GAMUT of emotions in the span of 50 minutes was not part of the plan for Kayinsola Ajayi, but the Auburn junior had already demonstrated resilience this season.
He won the 100 in a wind-aided (+2.2) 9.72 to make himself the sixth-fastest in all conditions and stack a bookend to his Indoor 60 title. Only Obadele Thompson (UTEP) ran faster as a collegian, 9.69 in ’96 with a 5.0 tailwind.
LSU junior Jaiden Reid was 2nd in a season-best 9.82w. Arkansas soph Jelani Watkins, the SEC champ formcharted at No. 1 ahead of Ajayi, finished 3rd in 9.87w.
For Ajayi, the evening had begun with crushing disappointment. The Tigers were favored to win the 4×1 after a 37.75 MR in the semis. After Ajayi’s speedy second leg, however, Auburn dropped the baton on the final exchange.
Ajayi was buoyed by teammate Ja’Kobe Tharp’s victory in the 110H shortly before he stepped into the blocks.
“My coach just told me, ‘Ajayi, don’t worry about the 4 x 100, you win some, you lose some.’ Just go out there and do what I have to do,” Ajayi said. “Just stick to the plan.”
He had already learned to bounce back after a mistake at the SEC on his home track. Ajayi let up at the line in the 100 heats and was shut out of the final. The 21-year-old Nigerian recordholder redeemed himself at Regionals with a world-leading 9.84, just shy of the Collegiate Record of 9.82 set by Tennessee’s Christian Coleman in ’17.
Auburn qualified five sprinters for Eugene, with Ajayi’s 9.94 leading three into the final.
With an improved start, Ajayi methodically separated from the field with the wind slightly over the legal limit. Tharp, who was waiting at the finish, gave him a chestbump.
“I didn’t really care about the time; I only cared about the win,” said Ajayi.
Reid, the Cayman recordholder who was 7th at Conference, pulled out a late surge to hold off the fast-closing Watkins, who equaled last year’s 3rd-place finish when he represented LSU.
Auburn’s Omari Lewis was 8th while Israel Okon pulled up at the line for a non-scoring 9th.
“The start was the best part of my race,” said Ajayi, who placed 3rd as a frosh and 4th last year. “Two days ago, I didn’t get the start I wanted so my coach told me, ‘Just calm down, relax and execute.’
“I’m in the best shape of my life right now. Nobody’s going to beat me.”
Ajayi, who finished 6th at the ’25 Worlds, joins Auburn speedsteers Harvey Glance (’76 & ’77) and Stanley Floyd (’80) as NCAA 100 champs, along with Tigers head coach Leroy Burrell (’90 for Houston).
MEN’S 100 RESULTS
FINAL (June 12; wind +2.2)
1. *Kayinsola Ajayi’ (Aub-Ngr) 9.72w (a-c: =6, =10 W; 2, 2 C);
2. *Jaiden Reid’ (LSU-Cay) 9.82w (a-c: =8, =8 C);
3. **Jelani Watkins (Ar) 9.87w;
4. *Davonte Howell’ (Tn-Cay) 9.88w;
5. *Eddie Nketia’ (USC-Aus) 9.95w;
6. **Mustapha Bokpin’ (MTn-Gha) 9.99w;
7. Mason Lawyer (Az) 10.04w;
8. Omari Lewis’ (Aub-Tri) 10.07w;
9. **Israel Okon’ (Aub-Ngr) 10.12w.
SEMIS (June 10)
I(0.2)–1. Watkins 10.05; 2. Howell’ 10.08; 3. *Traunard Folson (Tn) 10.15; 4. *Neo Mosebi’ (FlSt-SA) 10.17; 5. **Ajani Dwyer (PennSt) 10.18; 6. **Joshua Onwunili (Wi) 10.19 PR; 7. *John Sherman’ (TxT-Lbr) 10.21; 8. ***Karabo Letebele’ (Ar-SA) 26.49.
II(-0.3)–1. Okon’ 10.07; 2. Bokpin’ 10.09; 3. Louie Hinchliffe’ (Hous-GB) 10.18; 4. Azeem Fahmi’ (Aub-Mas) 10.21; 5. Tyler Davis (Aub) 10.21; 6. Tevijon Williams (Ar) 10.31; 7. *Ian Dossman (CSF) 10.32; 8. David Foster (TxAM) 10.35.
III(-1.1)–1. Ajayi’ 9.94; 2. Reid’ 9.95 PR; 3. Nketia’ 10.09; 4. Lewis’ 10.13; 5. Lawyer 10.15; 6. ***John Caleb’ (Mn-Ngr) 10.21; 7. **Durian Moss (FlSt) 10.21; 8. Abel Jordan’ (CSF-Spa) 10.29.
