TOKYO, Japan – Auburn track & field sprinting duo Kayinsola Ajayi and Israel Okon cruise through round one of the men’s 100m dash to advance to semi-finals at the 2025 World Athletic Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Competing for their home country of Nigeria, both Ajayi and Okon easily qualify for the semi-final round of the 100m on Sunday, Sept. 14th at 6:45 a.m. CT.
Ajayi, the 100m program record holder, dropped 9.88 in round one of the race. His 9.88 was a major personal best, shaving four hundredths of a second off his previous best (9.92). The Lagos, Nigeria native was the second fastest of the entire round, behind South Africa’s Gift Leotlela (9.87). Ajayi is the third fastest Nigerian of all time in the 100m and tied for the 11th fastest in the world this year.
Teammate, Okon, won heat six of the 100m, clocking 10.04. Okon ran the ninth fastest time of the round. He outran the 2020 100m Olympic Champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs from Italy.
Finals for the men’s 100m will be held Sunday, Sept. 14th at 8:20 a.m. CT.
Up next for the Tigers is five-time All-American Vimbayi Maisvorewa (Zimbabwe) in the women's 400m, starting Sunday, Sept. 14th, with the first round at 5:25 a.m. CT.
2025 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships 110m hurdles champion, Ja’Kobe Tharp, will compete in round one of the men’s 110m. Competing for Team USA, Tharp will race in round one at 6:20 a.m. CT on Sept. 15th.
Indoor and outdoor 200m record holder for Auburn, Makanakaishe Charamba (Zimbabwe), will compete in the first round of the men’s 200m on Wednesday, Sept. 17th at 6:15 a.m. CT.
Also representing Team USA, All-American Sanaa Barnes will compete in the women’s high jump qualifications on Thursday, Sept. 18th at 5:15 a.m. CT.
For more information on the 2025 World Athletic Championships, visit here.