Paris Olympics: Ajayi, Ashe Advance To Men’s 100m Semis

Paris Olympics: Ajayi, Ashe Advance To Men’s 100m Semis

Precious Oham

The Nigerian duo of Kanyinsola Ajayi and Favour Ashe have advanced to the men’s 100m semifinals at the Paris Olympics, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

National Champion, Kanyinsola Ajayi was the surprise winner in heat 5 as he defeated the reigning Olympic champion, Marcell Jacobs, to take the win in 10.02s. Jacobs was 2nd in 10.05s while Abdul Rasheed Saminu came 3rd in 10.06s

Ashe qualified by grabbing one of the fastest non-automatic spots after placing 4th in heat 4 with a time of 10.16, placing behind Oblique Seville (9.99s), Hakim Sani Brown (10.02) and Puripol Boonson (10.13s).

Meanwhile, Ashe has been drawn in heat 1 of men's 100m semifinals on Sunday. 

He will be going up against: USA's Noah Lyles, Jamaica's Oblique Seville, Great Britain's Louie Hinchliffe, Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme and Ghana's Benjamin Azamati for a place in the final. 

Also, Ajayi has been drawn in heat 2 and will be facing off with Botswana's Letsile Tebogo and South Africa's Akani Simbine. There's also USA's Kenneth Bednarek to contend with in that race.