The 100m discipline in the Canadian Track and Field League has seen considerable change since the end of the 2023 season, and it now looks to be one of the most competitive events of the season. 

With the 2024 campaign kicking off on May 18, a handful of CTFL athletes have competed in the 100m, but the majority have yet to lace up this season. Here are some athletes to watch out for as the season heats up.

Men’s 100m

Last season, the men’s 100m was won by Spitfire Brandon Letts, who collected all 75 points with a first-placed finish in all three marks. This season, Letts – the only core athlete to run sub-10.30 – will be competing against two elite athletes in Usheoritse Itsekiri and Bolade Ajomale. 

Ahead of the season, both Itsekiri and Ajomale moved from the utility category and became core athletes. This jump allows the two the opportunity to win more points, as they will be competing against only those within their discipline. 

Yet to compete, the Bears’ Itsekiri is the obvious favourite to finish atop the discipline this season. The Nigerian sprinter was one of the stars of the 2023 CTFL campaign, leading the utility category and running the fastest 100m time on Canadian soil – a 10.02. He ran his record-setting time twice during the season, matching his personal best set back in 2019. 

One year on from a season of peak performance, Itsekiri looks ready to rise to the top of the discipline when he opens his 2024 CTFL account.

Ajomale currently holds the fastest time of the season with a 10.39 free mark. The 28-year-old competed at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, winning a bronze in the 4x100m. Yet to run in a preliminary meet, Ajomale sits in second on the leaderboard with 25 points. Last season, the Arctics athlete finished eighth in the utility category, winning 50 points with a best time of 10.15. 

Despite the two new faces looking to dominate the discipline, reigning champ Brandon Letts will look to retain his position as leader of the pack. The Spitfires sprinter opened his season with a 10.60 free mark, but will need to deliver stronger results if he hopes to keep up with the likes of Ajomale and Itsekiri.

Women’s 100m

Similarly to the men’s division, newcomers already sit atop the women’s 100m. Donna Ntambue and Roxane Tedga comfortably lead the discipline with reigning champion Jorden Savoury in third place.

The Spitfires teammates opened the season in impressive fashion, with Ntambue setting a CTFL record of 11.36 and Tedga running her personal best, 11.65. While the two athletes began the season with strong showings, reigning champion Jorden Savoury will look to split the pair in the standings. 

The Huskies sprinter set a personal best of 11.58 in 2022, nearly a tenth of a second faster than Tedga’s new record. Her marks currently sit at 11.87 and 11.82, but if Savoury can begin firing on all cylinders once again, she may be able to steal some important points from the Spitfires.

Though Ntambue looks destined for the top spot this season, watch out for the battle between Savoury and the 2006-born Tedga for the second-placed spot, as Savoury – who just recently switched coaches – will be looking to contribute to the dethroning of the 2023 CTFL champions.

The second CTFL meet, the Bob Vigars Classic, will be on May 26 in London, Ont.