Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili has climbed to the top of Africa’s women’s 200 metres rankings after producing a season-best performance at the USATF Lone Star Grand Prix in Texas, United States.
The U.S.-based athlete clocked 22.15 seconds in the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event, surpassing the previous African-leading mark of 22.42 seconds set by fellow Nigerian and training partner Rosemary Chukwuma in April at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Key Highlights:
The 22-year-old remains the only Nigerian woman to have broken the 22-second barrier in the 200m event, having set a personal best of 21.96 seconds in 2022.
Her impressive outing comes months after World Athletics blocked her proposed switch of allegiance to Turkey, making her eligible to continue representing Nigeria.
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She is expected to feature for Team Nigeria at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Despite her continental-leading time, Ofili finished third in a highly competitive race won by reigning Olympic champion Gabby Thomas of the United States.
Thomas stormed to victory in a world-leading 21.70 seconds, ahead of compatriot Kayla White, who placed second in 22.07 seconds.
Thomas’ winning time eclipsed the previous world-leading mark of 21.86 seconds set earlier this year by Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia.
Meanwhile, another Nigerian athlete, Ella Onojuvwevwo, delivered a standout performance in the women’s 400 metres, claiming victory with a remarkable personal best of 49.47 seconds.
Onojuvwevwo’s breakthrough run further underlined Nigeria’s growing strength in sprint events and positions her as a strong contender ahead of major international competitions later in the season.
With Ofili now leading the African rankings in the 200m and Onojuvwevwo making a statement in the 400m, Nigerian athletics continues to enjoy a promising year on the global stage.
