Athletics: Favour Ofili breaks Blessing Okagbare’s 200m record
Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor, Abuja
Nigeria sprinter, Favour Chukwuka Ofili has broken Blessing Okagbare’s national record in 200metres after recording 21.96seconds finishing time in the women’s 200m race at the Tom Jones Memorial event in the United States.
The event which took place yesterday, Friday, at the James G. Pressly Stadium, Gainesville, Florida, saw Ofili coming top above her challengers, Kamaya Debose-Epps and Jonah Ross, who ran 22.81secs and 22.91secs respectively.
According to the new record set by the promising Nigerian athlete that turns 20 on 31st December, Ofili becomes the first collegian and Nigerian sprinter to go below the 22seconds mark in women’s 200m.
Furthermore, the new feat by the champion, in both 200m and 400m that has made her overtaken her fellow compatriot’s record, Blessing Okagbare’s, has also earned the accolade as the second-fastest woman ever in Africa in 400metres.
Ofili in the USA is an athlete in the Louisiana State University (LSU) team called the LSU Lady Tigers track and field. The team represents LSU in athletics events and also in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I.
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However, the new 200m record holder has won a series of medals for Nigeria in the track and field events. In 2019 African Games in Morocco, she won a gold medal in the 4×400m relay and a silver medal in the 400m race at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
More so, Ofili also won gold medals in 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships in 4×400m, 2019 African Youth Championships in 400m and 200m, 2018 African Youth Games, and bronze medals.
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