Paris Olympics: Ajayi, Ashe qualify for men’s 100m semi-finals

Team Nigeria’s Kanyisola Ajayi and Favour Ashe have qualified for the men’s 100m semi-finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Ajayi dipped 10.02 seconds to finish first in the fifth heat to defeat Italy’s Marcell Jacobs, defending Olympics champion, who placed second with 10.05 seconds, while Ghana’s Abdul-Rasheed Saminu came third with 10.06 seconds.

Ajayi’s time was slightly short of his personal best of 10.00 seconds, which he achieved earlier this year.

On his part, Ashe finished fourth in the fourth heat with a time of 10.16 seconds and only qualified for the semis with one of the fastest times outside the automatic qualification bracket.

Ashe was overwhelmed in the heat by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, who told first with 9.99 seconds and Abdul Hakim Sani Brown of Japan and Thailand’s Puripol Boonson.

The duo will face fierce competition in the semi-final heats. Ajayi will compete against South Africa’s Akani Simbene, Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, and Kenneth Bednareck for a place in the final.

Ashe will face the current world champion, Noah Lyles, from the US, and the reigning African champion, Emmanuel Eseme, from Cameroon.