Ogazi: I was forced to compete with illness
Team Nigeria’s hope of getting a medal in the 100m event at the 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, went up in flames, yesterday when Keyinsola Ajayi finished sixth in a race won by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville.
Seville produced the race of his life, clocking a blistering Personal Best (PB) of 9.77s (+0.3) to claim the coveted gold medal and etch his name in Jamaica’s sprinting history.
The 23-year-old became the first Jamaican to win the men’s 100m world title since the legendary Usain Bolt last did in 2015.
For years, Seville had been billed as one of Jamaica’s brightest prospects, narrowly missing out on global podiums in previous editions.
This time, however, he executed his race to perfection, finishing strong in the last 20 metres to secure the crown.
His compatriot Kishane Thompson also underlined Jamaica’s depth in sprinting, storming home in 9.82s to clinch the silver medal.
Thompson’s performance marked a Jamaican 1–2 finish on the world stage, reminiscent of the nation’s dominance during the Bolt era.
Noah Lyles of the United States, one of the pre-race favourites, had to settle for bronze with a time of 9.89s.
Though known for his explosive 200m prowess, Lyles had been eyeing the sprint double, but the Jamaicans proved too strong on the night.
