Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili set a new women’s world record in the 150m event at the Adidas Atlanta City Games on Saturday, clocking an astonishing 15.85 seconds to eclipse the previous record by almost four seconds.
The 22-year-old Port Harcourt-born athlete delivered a commanding performance that drew admiration from spectators and fellow athletes. Her time shattered the seven-year-old record set by Shaunae Miller in 2018 and made her the first woman in history to complete the 150m race in under 16 seconds.
Ofili took control of the race early, surging ahead after the 50m mark and never looking back. She widened the gap significantly between herself and the rest of the field, with second-placed Tamari Davis finishing with a personal best but still trailing by a wide margin.
“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.”
Reflecting on her strategy and execution, Ofili added that she had been advised to approach the race with the mindset of running a shorter distance. “I was told to relax and treat the race like it is 100[metres],” she said.
Ofili’s latest triumph adds to her growing list of achievements. In 2023, she set an African record in the 200m event with a time of 22.36 seconds at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Her performance in Atlanta not only reinforces her reputation as one of Africa’s fastest women but also places her firmly on the global athletics map.