Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili etched her name into the athletics history books on Saturday by setting a new world record in the rarely contested women’s 150 metres at the 2025 Adidas Atlanta City Games. Clocking an astonishing 15.85 seconds with a legal wind assistance of 2.0m/s at Piedmont Park, the 22-year-old became the first female athlete to break the 16-second barrier over the distance, shattering the previous record of 16.23 seconds held by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas since 2018.
Rising Star from Lagos
Born on December 31, 2002, in Lagos, Nigeria, Favour Ofili’s journey to international sprinting prominence began at a young age. She quickly demonstrated her prodigious talent in youth competitions, excelling in both the 100m and 200m sprints. Ofili’s breakthrough came during her collegiate career at the University of Texas, where she trained under elite coaches and honed her speed and technique. She has steadily progressed through international competitions, earning medals at events such as the World U20 Championships and African Championships.
Known for her smooth running style and explosive acceleration, Ofili has been widely regarded as one of Africa’s most promising sprinting talents. Her latest world record performance at Atlanta is a testament to her growing dominance and ability to perform under pressure.
Dominating Performance in Atlanta
At the Adidas Atlanta City Games, Ofili was unchallenged from the start, accelerating powerfully out of the blocks and maintaining her lead throughout the race. She finished in a commanding 15.85 seconds, smashing the previous world best by nearly four-tenths of a second—a remarkable margin in sprinting terms.
Trailing her was American sprinter Tamari Davis, who clocked 16.14 seconds for second place, while Jamaican Ashanti Moore came third in 16.50 seconds. Ofili’s record-setting run was the highlight of the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet and marked a significant milestone in her career, signaling her arrival as a global sprinting powerhouse.
Momentum for Nigerian Sprinting
The Atlanta meet was also notable for other strong performances from Nigerian athletes. Tobi Amusan, the current world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, continued to build momentum ahead of the summer season. Amusan ran a swift 12.53 seconds in her heat, finishing second to American Keni Harrison (12.44s) and comfortably advancing to the final. This followed her recent competitive times of 12.74 and 12.66 seconds earlier this year in China.
On the men’s side, Udodi Onwuzurike, a promising Nigerian sprinter, posted a season-best 10.20 seconds in the 100m heat, finishing second behind South African Akani Simbine (10.13s). His performance marked a notable resurgence and a potential breakthrough season for the 2025 campaign.
Looking Ahead
Ofili’s historic record run comes at a crucial time for Nigerian athletics, which is striving to reclaim its place among the world’s sprinting elites. Her achievement at the Adidas Atlanta City Games not only brings pride to Nigeria but also inspires a new generation of athletes aspiring to international success.
As Ofili prepares for upcoming championships, including the World Athletics Championships and other global meets, all eyes will be on her to see if she can continue her meteoric rise and perhaps challenge for medals on the biggest stages, including the Olympics.
With her world record-breaking performance and a promising cohort of Nigerian sprinters rising, the future looks bright for Nigeria’s track and field ambitions.
