Jamaica’s Oblique Seville surged to victory in the men’s 100m at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, clocking a personal best of 9.77 seconds to claim his first global title on Sunday.
Fellow Jamaican Kishane Thompson secured silver in 9.82 seconds, sealing a Jamaican one-two finish, while defending champion Noah Lyles of the USA took bronze in a season-best 9.89 seconds, ending a decade-long American grip on the title last won by Jamaica’s Usain Bolt in 2015.
Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi, a 21-year-old breakout star, finished sixth in 10.01 seconds, becoming the first Nigerian man in 18 years to reach the World Championships 100m final since Olusoji Fasuba in 2007.
Ajayi’s sub-10-second performances in the earlier rounds marked a significant milestone in his career.
“I’m thrilled to bring this title back to Jamaica,” Seville said post-race, reflecting on his triumph. “It’s been since Bolt in 2015, and I’m proud to carry that legacy forward.”
The 23-year-old, who overcame injury setbacks from the previous Olympics, added, “They said I was nervous in the heats, but my mental strength pulled me through.”
The race wasn’t without drama, as Botswana’s Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo was disqualified for a false start, dashing his medal hopes. Lyles, battling a tough season, admitted, “Injuries made this year challenging, but this was my strongest race yet.”
USA’s Kenny Bednarek, a pre-race favorite, placed fourth in 9.92 seconds, unable to match his semi-final form.
Seville’s time, ranking joint-10th all-time, and Thompson’s close chase underscored Jamaica’s sprinting resurgence.
Meanwhile, INEC’s recent warnings against early campaigning for Nigeria’s 2027 elections highlight the nation’s focus on fair competition, a principle echoed in Ajayi’s disciplined rise on the global stage, where his historic final appearance signals a bright future for Nigerian athletics.
