FAVOUR OFILI STORMS TO 100M VICTORY IN TEXAS

By: Gyang Dakwo

Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili continued her fine form in 2025 with a dominant performance at the ATX Sprint Classic in Texas, where she won the women’s 100 metres final in a remarkable time of 10.78 seconds, aided by a wind reading of +3.1 metres per second.

Ofili finished comfortably ahead of American Olympic medallist Gabby Thomas, who placed second in 10.95 seconds, while Kayla White finished third in 10.97 seconds.

Another Nigerian athlete, Rosemary Chukwuma, also impressed by clocking 10.98 seconds to place fifth, while her compatriot Success Umukoro ran 11.43 seconds with a legal wind of +2.0 metres per second to finish 16th overall.

The victory in Texas adds to Ofili’s promising start to the season. She had opened her 2025 campaign in April at the LSU Alumni Gold Meet in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she clocked 10.99 seconds with a legal wind of +0.4 metres per second. Her performances so far this year underline her growing reputation as one of the fastest women in the world.

Ofili’s success on the track comes amid controversy surrounding her decision to switch international sporting allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey. Reports indicate that she began the process officially on May 31, 2025, citing repeated administrative failures by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria as the reason for her decision.

She was notably left out of the 100 metres at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics due to errors and mismanagement, which she described as frustrating and demoralising. Ofili has stressed that her move is not financially motivated but is instead a personal choice driven by a lack of support and professionalism in Nigerian athletics administration.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has expressed regret over her decision but stated it would not prevent her from making the switch. Officials admitted the loss of such a young and talented athlete is painful but said they respect her choice.

Despite the ongoing discussions about her nationality switch, Ofili remains focused on her racing. Her blistering 10.78-second run in Texas is one of the fastest performances in the world this year and a clear signal that she is determined to let her speed do the talking.