0
0
Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili stunned the athletics world at the Adidas Atlanta City Games on Saturday by setting a new women’s world record in the 150m event. The 22-year-old Port Harcourt-born athlete clocked an incredible 15.85 seconds, shattering the previous record by nearly four seconds.
Ofili’s commanding performance captivated spectators and fellow competitors alike. Her time broke the seven-year-old record previously held by Shaunae Miller since 2018, making Ofili the first woman ever to run the 150m race in under 16 seconds. She took control early in the race, pulling ahead shortly after the 50m mark and steadily increasing her lead. Despite a personal best performance from second-place finisher Tamari Davis, Ofili maintained a significant margin.
In a post-race interview, Ofili expressed her gratitude and surprise: “The Lord is good and marvelous in my sight. Honestly, I’m surprised with the time. But I know I put in the work, I trust my coach and his program, and I believe the Lord would do it at the right time.” She also shared insight into her race strategy, explaining that she was advised to approach the 150m race as if it were a 100m sprint. “I was told to relax and treat the race like it is 100 metres,” she said.
This latest achievement adds to Ofili’s impressive resume. In 2023, she set the African record in the 200m with a time of 22.36 seconds at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Her outstanding performance in Atlanta further cements her status as one of Africa’s fastest women and elevates her profile on the global athletics stage.
