At the Adidas Atlanta City Games, Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili broke the world record in the women’s 150-meter straight race, leaving athletes speechless.
On Saturday night, the event was held at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. In 2018, Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo established the previous world mark of 16.23 seconds, which was surpassed by Ofili’s incredible speed of 15.85 seconds, electrifying the crowd.
Ofili’s historic triumph made her the first female competitor to ever finish the infrequently fought 150-meter race in less than 16 seconds.
Following her remarkable accomplishment, Favour Ofili attributed it to both heavenly favor and the steadfast assistance of her coach, who has played a crucial role in her preparation.
“I can’t even speak. In my opinion, the Lord is wonderful, and he is good,” Ofili remarked.
You know, it’s all God. Yes, I am shocked by the time, but I am aware that I worked hard. I have faith in my coach and his program, and I believed that the Lord would do what was right.
The 150m race isn’t usually a championship event, but it’s becoming more and more popular at street meets because of its special blend of speed and endurance.
Undeterred by the unique distance, Ofili explained her race plan and the helpful advice she got from her support system.
“Treat it as though it were a hundred meters.” She clarified, “If the track is bouncy, just let it do the work and drive more.” “My coach would always tell me, ‘Your favorite is to relax and sprint.'” I did just that, and it was effective.
In addition to setting a world record, Ofili’s incredible run allowed her to surpass American sprinting sensation Tamari Davis, who came in second with a time of 16.14 seconds, which was quicker than the previous world record.
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It was a historic event for Nigeria since Ofili became only the second Nigerian athlete to hold a world record in athletics, joining world 100-meter hurdles champion Tobi Amusan in this prestigious company.
At the Grand Slam Track event in Miami, Ofili previously set a wind-assisted 100-meter record of 10.94 seconds and followed that performance with a 200-meter time of 22.27 seconds. This incredible accomplishment adds to an already outstanding outdoor season for the athlete.
There, she placed close behind Olympic winner Gabby Thomas and up-and-coming sprinting sensation Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, confirming her reputation as a fierce opponent.
Ofili is poised to make her debut on the international sporting scene thanks to her unwavering focus on upcoming events, which includes a medal attempt at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships.
She is determined to use her talent and hard work to achieve Olympic success in the years to come, even though she finished sixth in the 200-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, just missing the podium.
