Commonwealth Games 2026: Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme storms to 100m men’s gold in Games Record time

Emmanuel Eseme topped a stacked field in the men’s 100m athletics final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Tuesday (28 July), powering past Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy and Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi to seal victory on the finish line at a rainy Scotstoun Stadium.

His time of 9.83 seconds was the fastest ever run at the Commonwealth Games, resetting the history books with a flourish. Kennedy reached the finish second in an Australian record of 9.85, followed close behind by Ajayi at 9.90. 

South Africa’s Gift Leotlela was fourth in a time of 9.91. He was the only other man to go under 10 seconds in the rain-soaked final. 

Hopes were high for a record-breaking race after Cameroon’s Eseme clocked a national record time of 9.89 in the semi-finals and Australian sprint star Lachlan Kennedy clocked a personal best of 9.94.

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala did not advance to the finals, later telling Olympics.com that he is “really not good in the rain”.

More to follow…