Team Nigeria’s hunt for gold in the men’s 100m final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games ended in disappointment last night, as medal favorite Kanyisola Ajayi had to settle for a bronze finish. Clocking in at 9.90 seconds, Ajayi was unable to replicate the form that saw him set a national record of 9.84 seconds just months prior to the competition.
The gold medal went to Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme, who set a new Games record with a blistering 9.83 seconds, while Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy secured silver with a personal best of 9.85 seconds.
Earlier, the semifinals proved a hurdle for the rest of the Nigerian contingent. Favour Ashe and Adekalu Nicolas Fakorede were unable to advance, with Ashe finishing sixth in his heat and Fakorede placing fourth in his respective semifinal race.
The women’s 100m also saw a difficult outing for the team. Blessing Ogundiran did not take to the track for her semifinal, while Rosemary Chukwuma struggled during her race, pulling up after 50 meters to finish last. Speaking to Nigerian track & field reporters in the mixed zone, Chukwuma revealed that a recurring hamstring injury forced her to abort the race. The final Nigerian entrant, Oluebube Ezechukwu, finished fourth in her semifinal heat but did not secure a spot in the final.
Conditions proved challenging elsewhere, as rain forced a suspension of the women’s high jump. At the time of the interruption, Temitope Adeshina was performing well, sitting as a joint leader alongside Jamaica’s Lamara Distin with a height of 1.82m.
It was a tough day for other Nigerian athletes in field and strength events as well. Oyesade Olatoye finished eighth in the women’s hammer throw, an event dominated by Canada’s Camryn Rogers, who established a new Games record of 74.91m. Meanwhile, at the SEC Exhibition Centre, weightlifter Ruth Imoleayo Ayodele placed seventh in the women’s 63kg category. The competition was dominated by Canada’s Maude Charrion, who took the gold medal, with England’s Sarah Davies Smale taking silver and Femily-Crystie Notte claiming bronze.
