IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nigerian athlete, Favour Ofili, won the first women’s 200 metres semi-finals and qualified for the final at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
The Nigerian sprinter ran a time of 22.66 seconds on Friday evening to record the second fastest time in the three semi-finals, next to Olympic champions and Jamaican’s Elaine Thompson-Herah, who posted a time of 22.63 seconds with ease.
Ofili slowed down when she saw that the gap between her and the second placed woman was much to reserve her energy for the final.
Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte came second in the race in a time of 23.09, while Gina Bass of the Gambia came third in a time of 23.10 seconds.
The 19-year-old Nigerian had in the 2019 African Games won silver medalist in the 400 metres. She is also the 2019 African Youth Champion in the 200 and 400 metres.
She holds the National record and the National under 20 record over the 200m with a time of 21.96, thus making her the first Nigerian female athlete to run under the 22 seconds barrier.
She ran 10.93s in the 100m at the LSU Invitational in Baton Rouge, LA on April 30, 2022 and became the first female NCAA athlete to run sub 22s and sub 11s.