Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Chukwuka Ofili has made history at the Atlanta City Games, setting a new world record in the women’s 150 metres with a blistering time of 15.85 seconds. The 22-year-old, competing on the blue track at Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, became the first woman in history to dip below the 16-second mark in the rarely contested event.
The previous world record of 16.23 seconds, set in 2018 by Bahamian star Shaunae Miller-Uibo, had stood unchallenged for six years. Miller-Uibo, a two-time Olympic gold medallist in the 400m, was widely regarded as the queen of the one-and-a-half bend sprint — until now. Ofili’s performance not only eclipsed that mark but did so convincingly, despite the event being run with a tailwind measured at the legal limit of +2.0 m/s.
Tamari Davis of the United States finished second in 16.14 seconds, also under the previous record, but it was Ofili’s name that was etched into the record books. The LSU student-athlete and Nigerian national has consistently shown promise over the traditional sprint distances — 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay — but this performance marks a significant breakthrough on the global stage.
Ofili, who has become affectionately known as “Star Girl” in athletics circles, reacted to the historic run with a message of gratitude on social media. “For the Lord is good,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by series of emojis.
Born in Port Harcourt, Ofili has been on a meteoric rise since her days competing in Nigeria’s junior circuit. Her move to Louisiana State University amplified her development, placing her among some of the best collegiate sprinters in the world. She now holds the fastest time ever recorded in the women’s 150m, an event that, while not featured at the Olympic Games or World Championships, offers a thrilling blend of acceleration and speed endurance.
Her record-breaking performance adds to the growing list of Nigerian athletes making their mark on international athletics. Ofili’s form is a clear signal of what may lie ahead for the sprinter, who is now firmly in the spotlight.
The Atlanta City Games, part of the Adidas Boost series, continues to serve as a showcase for elite sprinting talent in an urban setting.
