Kanyinsola Ajayi set for 100m heavyweight clash against world's fastest sprinters at Gyulai Istvan Memorial

Nigeria's fastest runner this season Kanyinsola Ajayi is set for a 100m heavyweight clash against some of the world's fastest sprinters at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Budapest on Tuesday, August 12.

The rising sprint sensation fresh from competing at the Nigerian trials last weekend, where he won his 100m heat in 10.05s but had to withdraw from the semifinals and final due to personal reasons, will return to action aiming to upset some of the biggest names in world's sprint this season.

Top of the list is Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson, who ran a jaw-dropping personal best and world-leading time of 9.75s to win the Jamaican trials in June. He is the outright favourite for the win and will be gunning for his second consecutive victory at the meet.

Also included in the stacked field are South African sprint legend Akani Simbine, Africa's fastest man in history, Ferdinand Omanyala, veteran American sprinter Ronnie Baker, and the Jamaican duo of Ackeem Blake and Rohan Watson, all of whom have run under the sub-10s mark this season.

Despite facing experienced and more established sprinters, Ajayi is capable of holding his own, as he has proven in the past.

The talented Nigerian youngster has a personal best of 9.92s clocked this year during the college season as a student of Auburn University, and if he can replicate the same or better performance, a top-three position is arguably guaranteed.

With the World Championships on the horizon, Ajayi will hope the Gyulai Istvan Memorial race can build his confidence ahead of doing something special in Tokyo.