Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi finished second in the heats at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo to advance to the semi-finals of the men’s 100m.
Ajayi ran a time of 9.88 seconds at a wind speed of 0.3, a second slower than eventual winner and fellow African contingent Gift Leotlel, who ran a time of 9.87 seconds.
His under-10-second time is the 9th fastest in the world this year.
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Joining the 20-year-old are defending champion Noah Lyles, Jamaican rival Kishane Thompson and Botswanan Letsile Tebogo, who all made easy work in qualifying.
Under pressure from Jamaica’s fast-starting Ackeem Blake, Lyles powered through for the heat win in 9.95sec, Blake taking second in 10.07sec.
The next round of the blue-ribbon event in the Japanese capital is scheduled for 11:45 GMT on Sunday, with the final set for 13:20 GMT.
