Favour Ofili: Star girl storms to second-fastest season opener by a Nigerian athlete in history behind Blessing Okagbare
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Favour Ofili // @LSUTrackField

Favour Ofili: Star girl storms to second-fastest season opener by a Nigerian athlete in history behind Blessing Okagbare

Funmilayo Fameso 21:34 - 30.03.2024

Nigeria's speedster Favour Ofili is back and better as she blazed to her fastest 100m time ever for an impressive win in Louisiana.

Speed sensation Favour Ofili gave a glimpse of what to expect for the rest of the season after storming to the second-fastest season opener by a Nigerian athlete in history behind Blessing Okagbare.

The Louisiana State University (LSU) alumni competing in her first individual outdoor race of the season clocked a superb 10.85s (+2.6m/s) to win the women's 100m event at the Battle of the Bayou.

Favour Ofili professionally runs for Adidas

She held off her former college teammate Brianna Lyston, who ran 10.87s, while another collegiate athlete McKenzie Long came third in 10.89s.

Ofili's time would have been a new lifetime best but for the excessive wind reading. However, she'll take solace knowing it's her fastest time ever in the event in all conditions and only sits second behind track legend Okagbare's 10.72s clocked in 2018.

The 21-year-old's early season form has been impressive, having begun the year in a record-breaking form by smashing Amantle Montsho's 14-year-old 300m African Record of 36.33s with a new 35.99s for a second-place finish behind world 200m silver medallist Gabby Thomas who clocked 35.85s. Also, it obliterated Christy Opara's Nigerian Record of 36.53s.

Now recording her fastest career time in any wind condition, Ofili is surely in shape to break her Personal Best of 10.93s. With the season still young, which she'll have opportunities to compete in more professional races, the Nigerian speedster will be gunning to drop more brilliant times in preparation for the Paris Olympic Games.

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