Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili made history at the Adidas Atlanta City Games on Saturday by setting a new women’s world record in the 150m, clocking an incredible 15.85 seconds, nearly four seconds faster than the previous mark.
The 22-year-old athlete from Port Harcourt delivered a dominant performance that earned widespread praise from fans and fellow competitors. Her record-breaking run surpassed the previous best set by Shaunae Miller in 2018 and marked the first time a woman has ever completed the 150m in under 16 seconds.
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Ofili seized control of the race early, accelerating past the 50m mark and never relinquishing her lead. She widened the gap decisively, finishing well ahead of second-place Tamari Davis, who ran a personal best but couldn’t keep pace with Ofili’s blistering speed.
The Lord is good, and is marvellous in my sight. Honestly, I’m surprised with the time, Ofili said in a post-race interview.
But I know I put in the work, I trust my coach, I trust his program, and I know at the right time the Lord would do it.
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Reflecting on her race strategy, Ofili shared that she was encouraged to approach the event as if it were a shorter sprint. “I was told to stay calm and run it like a 100[meter] race,” she explained.
This latest victory adds to Ofili’s impressive list of accomplishments. In 2023, she set a new African record in the 200m with a time of 22.36 seconds at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Her standout performance in Atlanta not only strengthens her status as one of Africa’s fastest sprinters but also cements her position on the global athletics stage.
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