Ofili Returns To to Form With Season-Leading Performance

Ofili Returns To to Form With Season-Leading Performance

By Admin 

U.S.-based sprinter Favour Ofili returned to the top of Nigeria’s women’s 200m rankings after clocking 22.46 seconds at the Tom Jones Memorial meet over the weekend, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Competing in the Olympic Development section of the women’s 200m, Ofili finished third in her heat despite running into a strong -2.0 m/s headwind. She placed behind her Adidas training partner McKenzie Long, who won in 22.42 seconds, and Mariah Maxwell, who followed in 22.44, with both times aided by favorable wind conditions.

The 23-year-old’s performance was enough to move her ahead of Kelly Ufodiama (22.53) as Nigeria’s fastest woman over the distance so far in 2026.

Ofili is expected to represent Nigeria at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after World Athletics declined her proposed switch of nationality to Turkey. Since 2021, she has consistently finished each season as Nigeria’s top 200m sprinter, a run that began with her 22.23-second performance at the World U20 Championships in Kenya. She also holds the national record at 21.96 seconds.

Elsewhere at the meet in Gainesville, Olayinka Olajide posted a wind-assisted 22.76 seconds to finish ninth overall in the women’s invitational 200m race. Success Oyibu (22.99) and Esther Joseph (23.09) also recorded wind-aided times, placing 16th and 21st respectively.

In the men’s event, reigning Nigerian 100m champion Israel Okon delivered an impressive performance, winning the 200m invitational in 20.27 seconds (+1.6). The mark stands as both the Nigerian and collegiate lead this season.