2016 Olympic Games
Thursday, August 18 (7:40 a.m. PT) - Prelims
Friday, August 19 (6:35 p.m. PT) - Final
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil – Olympic Stadium
Schedule | Live Results (8/18) | Live Results (8/19) | Live Video

MOBOLADE AJOMALE IS FIRST ART U OLYMPIAN
After a historic freshman season with Academy of Art University track & field, Mobolade Ajomale now finds himself among the members of Team Canada in Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games. Set to compete in the 4x100m relay following his personal record in the 100m dash at the Canadian Championships, Ajomale has embraced this special opportunity to challenge the world's elite.

"After the season I had, it feels like a blessing that I'm here and I'm super excited," said Ajomale. "I'm a little nervous because this is the biggest stage I've ever been on with the whole world tuning in. But I know for a fact that if I just keep doing what I've been doing all year that I'll be fine."

TOEING THE LINE
The first prelim of the men's 4x100m relay is set to take place at Olympic Stadium in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 11:40 a.m. BT (7:40 a.m. PT). The following day, Aug. 19, features the 4x100m finals at 10:35 p.m. BT (6:35 p.m. PT). Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights on Twitter and "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

AJOMALE QUALIFIES FOR RIO OLYMPICS
At Foote Field in Edmonton on July 10 for the Canadian Championships & Rio Selection Trials, Mobolade Ajomale toed the line for the third of three 100m prelim heats. Knowing he would have to top his previous record (10.25) in order to make the final and achieve the Olympic standard of 10.16 along the way, Ajomale was up for the challenge as he stepped in just two lanes over from Canadian great Andre De Grasse (NCAA 100m, 200m champion and current Canadian record holder in the 200m).

Amid cold conditions, Ajomale would burn up the track for his fastest time to date, going 10.15 to not only take second (ensuring a spot in the final), but he hit the Olympic standard as well. Just a short two hours later, Ajomale was one of eight men returned for the 100m final. There, De Grasse would shift into another gear, going 9.99 for the win, but Ajomale was not far behind in fourth with a time of 10.23. Automatic qualifiers to the Rio Olympics were the top two though an opportunity remained for the top four to make up Team Canada's 4x100m relay.

"I am so happy for Bolade to have earned this experience," said director of track & field/cross country Torrey Olson. "His heart is in track and field, and despite his age, he competes like a veteran. Regardless of what obstacle crops up on any stage I've seen him compete on, he has always been able to focus through the noise. To me, the chance to compete on the noisiest stage makes this a particularly exciting opportunity for him."

'MO BOLADE
Coming off a summer in which he competed for Canada at the World University Games, Ajomale  was a national champion in the indoor 100m, West Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, and a three-time All-American before stepping foot into his outdoor season. Ajomale would add three more program records (100m, 200m, 4x100m), earn two PacWest Track Athlete of the Week honors, and be named PacWest Championship Male Track Athlete of the Meet after scoring 32.5 points at the 2016 PacWest Championships with titles in 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4x100m en route to team's second place finish. By the regular season's send, the native of Richmond Hill, Canada was top 10 in the country in the 100m and 200m and would drop two more ART U records with top-three finishes in the 100m (10.25) and 200m (20.59) at NCAA Nationals. Ajomale completed his first year as a five-time All-American and will contest the 100m and 200m this weekend.

TEAM CANADA
Alongside Ajomale in the 4x100m relay are a collection of Canadian's top sprinters including Andre DeGrasse, Aaron Brown, Akeem Haynes, Oluwasegun Makinde, and Brendon Rodney. DeGrasse, who competes in his first Olympics despite being a gold medalist in both the 100m and 200m in the Pan American Games, finished with the top mark at the Canadian Championships, going 9.99 which was not far from his personal best of 9.92 set at the IAAF World Championships last year. Ahead of Ajomale in the Canadian Championship 100m final were Brown (10.07) and Haynes (10.21) while Makinde (10.35) followed and Rodney, who did not compete in the 100m, won the 200m title at 20.25.

THE COMPETITION
The 2012 Olympic Games in London saw Jamaica's 4x100m men's relay claim a gold medal after running a new world record 36.84. Combining the efforts of Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake, and Usain Bolt that year, Jamaica will be after the title once again and will likely have a familiar face in the mix with Asafa Powell, whom Ajomale competed against at the IAAF World Indoors 60m. Competing in his final Olympic Games, Bolt currently holds the world record for both the 100m and 200m, having gone 9.58 in the former.

Also a contender to medal will be the United States whose squad includes Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, and Trayvon Bromell, who all claim 100m personal bests under 9.85. The US earned gold in the event back in the 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney.