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Favour Ashe stormed to victory in the men’s 100 metres with a personal best of 9.93 seconds to be crowned Nigeria’s fastest man at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria Commonwealth Games Trials in Lagos. The sprinter delivered a career-defining run on Tuesday to take the national title and stake a strong claim for a place at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
How Favour Ashe won the title
The Delta State athlete clocked a legal 9.93 seconds in the final, lowering his previous best of 9.94 seconds set in the United States in 2024. He had hinted at his form earlier in the day, running a wind-assisted 9.97 seconds in the semi-finals before saving his best for the medal race.
The final was tightly contested. Fakorede Adekalu pushed him hard, producing a personal best of 9.98 seconds to take silver, while Ezeakor Chidera completed the podium with another personal best of 10.03 seconds for bronze. The depth of the field underlined the rising quality of Nigerian sprinting.
A statement performance
Breaking 10 seconds is the benchmark of elite sprinting, and Ashe did it while edging a competitive line-up. The result reinforces his standing as one of the country’s leading sprint talents and a genuine medal hope on the international stage. With three men dipping under or close to the mark, the trials showcased a new generation eager to follow in the footsteps of Nigeria’s sprint greats.
For Ashe, the run is also a personal milestone. Shaving time off a best set abroad two years ago shows he is still improving, and doing it at home in front of Nigerian fans adds weight to the achievement.
Eyes on Glasgow
With the national trials now complete, attention shifts to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s selection of the athletes who will represent the country at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. A 9.93-second clocking puts Ashe in strong contention not only for an individual berth but also for a key role in the men’s relay.
The trials in Lagos drew a star-studded cast across the sprints, hurdles and field events, with more than a thousand athletes competing for limited spots. That competition means selectors face difficult choices, but a national title and a personal best leave Ashe among the standout names from the meet.
Why it matters
Nigeria has long produced world-class sprinters, and a fresh sub-9.95 performer strengthens the country’s hopes on the global circuit. Strong domestic trials help athletes peak at the right time and give selectors clear, merit-based results to work with. If Ashe carries his Lagos form to Glasgow, he could be one of the faces of Nigeria’s track campaign at the Commonwealth Games, and a reminder that the nation’s sprinting pipeline remains very much alive.
The road from Yaba
Ashe arrived in Lagos as a leading contender for the sprint crown, and the result matched the billing. Coaches will hope he can stay fit and sharp through the selection window, as consistency at major meets often separates contenders from medallists. A home title also builds belief, giving the sprinter momentum he can carry into training camps before the Games. For Nigerian athletics fans, the run is an early sign that the country’s short sprints are in good hands heading into a busy international season.
