Favour Ofili, a U.S based Nigerian athlete has overtaken Rosemary Chukwuma her compatriot, friend and training partner to now emerge as Africa’s fastest 200m runner.
The 23-year old sprinter actually clocked a new season’s best of 22.15 seconds at the USATF Lone Star Grand Prix, a World Athletics Continental Gold Tour event in Texas, USA.
However, Ella Onojuvwevwo another Nigerian athlete also recently announced herself as a major contender on the global stage with a breathtaking victory in the women’s 400 metres at the USATF Lone Star Grand Prix, clocking a sensational personal best of 49.47 seconds.
The former LSU Lady Tigers star’s performance was a significant improvement on the 22.46 she ran earlier in Gainesville, Florida. Favor Ofili’s time moves her to the top of the African half-lap list, ahead of Chukwuma’s 22.42 set in April at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Nigeria is still expecting the likes of Favor Ofili to represent them in the forth coming 2026 Commonwealth Games after her move to compete for Turkey was blocked by World Athletics earlier this year, remains the only Nigerian woman to have broken the 22-second barrier over 200m, with her lifetime best of 21.96 set in 2022.
Notwithstanding, a recent report has also stated that Gabby Thomas who is the reigning Olympic champion has blasted a new world lead of 21.70 seconds to win the women’s 200m at the USTF Lone Star Grand Prix, while Camryn Rogers extended her winning streak in the women’s hammer.
According to the report, it was claimed that Thomas ran faster than her Olympic-winning performance of 21.83 at Paris 2024, and just 0.10 shy of the personal best she set in 2023.
Gabby Thomas finished comfortably ahead of her nearest challengers in College Station, Texas, with her compatriot Kayla White coming second in 22.07, and Nigeria’s Favour Ofili third in 22.15.
Nigerian Athlete Ofili Becomes Africa’s Fastest Woman in 200m
