Nigerian athletes Kanyinsola Ajayi and Favour Ashe have advanced to the men’s 100m semifinals at the Paris Olympics.

Ajayi, a national champion, defeated reigning Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs in heat 5 in 10.02 seconds.

Jacobs finished second in 10.05 seconds and Abdul Rasheed Saminu came third in 10.06 seconds.

Read Also:Paris 2024: Team Nigeria Mixed Relay Set New Record Despite Ouster

Ashe qualified as one of the fastest non-automatic spots after placing 4th in heat 4 with a time of 10.16 seconds.

Ajayi will compete against Noah Lyles from the USA, Oblique Seville from Jamaica, Louie Hinchliffe from the UK, Emmanuel Eseme from Cameroon, and Benjamin Azamati from Ghana for a spot in the final.

He will also compete in heat 2 against Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, South Africa’s Akani Simbine, and Kenneth Bednarek from the USA.