Ajayi, Nathaniel qualify for 2027 World Athletics Championships

Kanyinsola Ajayi ran 9.94 seconds in the men’s 100m final at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships. Ezekiel Nathaniel also booked his place in Beijing after recording 47.83 seconds in the men’s 400m hurdles.

Ajayi’s time was set with a legal wind reading of +1.4 metres per second, allowing the 21-year-old to meet the required standard. His qualification adds another milestone to a 2026 season in which he has established himself among the leading sprinters in the event.

The Nigerian has matched the country’s 100m record of 9.84 seconds this year. He has also won the NCAA title and recorded significant victories against Oblique Seville, the reigning world champion. His latest qualifying performance came in the final of the Silesia meeting.

Nathaniel, the 2026 Commonwealth Games champion, is also Nigeria’s national record holder in the 400m hurdles. He set that mark at 47.11 seconds during the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, making his 47.83 in Silesia slower than his national best but sufficient for automatic selection for Beijing.

Their performances give Nigeria two confirmed athletes for the 2027 championships. The qualification period remains open, leaving athletes in other events with further opportunities to reach the required standards and join Ajayi and Nathaniel in what could become a larger Nigerian team.