NIGERIAN sprinter Favour Ofili has made history by breaking the world record in the women’s 150m at the Adidas Atlanta City Games.
She clocked an impressive time of 15.85 seconds (2.0), becoming the first woman ever to complete the distance in under 16 seconds at the event on Saturday, May 18.
This feat surpassed the previous record of 16.23 seconds, set by Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas in 2018.
The Adidas Atlanta City Games is a prestigious annual track and field event held in Atlanta.
Formerly known as the adidas BOOST Boston Games, it moved to Atlanta in 2023 and has since become known for its unique street meet format.
A 150-meter elevated straight track is set up in Centennial Olympic Park, allowing spectators to experience world-class athletics up close. The event brings a dynamic, urban twist to traditional track and field.
Speaking after her record-breaking performance, Ofili expressed her gratitude and excitement during an interview posted by LSU Track and Field.
She said, “The Lord is good. He’s marvelous on my side. It’s all God, and honestly, I am surprised with the time, but I know I put in the work. I trust my coach, I trust his programme, and I know at the right time, the Lord will do it.
Ofili also shared insights into her race strategy, explaining how she approached the historic run.
“I got some advice to treat it like a long 100m, to drive more and let the track do the work. My coach said relax and spring very well.”
Ofili’s historic performance in Atlanta follows her impressive debut at the Grand Slam Track Meet in Miami earlier this month.
At the Miami Meet, part of the newly launched Grand Slam Track series founded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson, Ofili finished third in the women’s 100m with a time of 10.94 seconds.
The latest world champion will be aiming to change her fortunes this year at the World Championships in Tokyo, after experiencing disappointment in the 200m final at the last Paris Olympics.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M