Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili says she is “speechless” after setting a new world record in the women’s 150m at the Adidas Atlanta City Games on Saturday.
The 22-year-old ran 15.85 seconds in the street race held at Piedmont Park, beating the previous world best of 16.23 seconds set by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo in 2018. With this record, Ofili became the first woman to run the 150m under 16 seconds.
“I’m speechless. The Lord is good, and it’s marvellous in my sight. Honestly, it’s all God. I’m surprised by the time, yes, but I know I put in the work. I trust my coach, I trust his programme, and I knew that at the right time, the Lord would make it happen,” Ofili said after the race.
Although the 150m is not a regular championship event, it is becoming popular at street races because of its mix of speed and endurance. Ofili wasn’t bothered by the unusual distance.
She explained, “I got some advice: treat it like a long 100 metres. Drive more, and if the track is bouncy, just let the track do the work. My coach always used to say, ‘Relax and sprint – that’s your favourite.’ That’s exactly what I did.”
Also Read:
- Osimhen Breaks Turkish Record, Fires Galatasaray to Cup Victory
- Joshua Becomes Richer Than Kane and Fury with €232m Net Worth
Ofili beat American sprinter Tamari Davis, who finished second in 16.14 seconds – also faster than the previous record.
With this performance, Ofili became only the second Nigerian athlete to hold a world record in athletics, after Tobi Amusan, the reigning 100m hurdles world champion.
Her Atlanta victory adds to what has already been a strong outdoor season. She recently ran 10.94 seconds (wind-assisted) in the 100m and 22.27 seconds in the 200m at a track meet in Miami, finishing behind Olympic medalists Gabby Thomas and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.
Born in Port Harcourt, Ofili narrowly missed a medal in the 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, finishing sixth. Now, she says she’s focused on reaching the podium at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.