Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili stunned the athletics world on Saturday, becoming the first woman ever to dip below 16 seconds for the 150 metres, clocking a sizzling 15.85 seconds (2.0m/s) at the Adidas Atlanta City Games. Her effort at Piedmont Park erased the previous mark of 16.23 seconds set by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo in 2018.
From the gun, the 22-year-old surged clear of her rivals, crossing the line almost a quarter-second ahead of American Tamari Davis (16.14s) and Jamaican Ashanti Moore (16.50s). The record run was the highlight of the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet, underscoring Ofili’s rapid ascent on the global stage.
“It felt incredible,” Ofili said afterward. “I knew I had the speed; today, everything clicked. This record is for Nigeria and for every young athlete back home dreaming big.”
Ofili’s triumph capped a strong day for Team Nigeria. World 100m hurdles record holder Tobi Amusan continued her fine form, advancing to the final in 12.53 seconds after finishing second in her heat behind American Keni Harrison (12.44s). Meanwhile, rising sprinter Udodi Onwuzurike ran a season’s best of 10.20 seconds in the men’s 100m heats, finishing just behind South Africa’s Akani Simbine (10.13s) to book his lane in Sunday’s final.
Organizers praised the Atlanta City Games format — with its street-style, open-air track and enthusiastic local crowds — for bringing athletics closer to fans and providing a perfect stage for headline-grabbing performances. For Nigeria, Ofili’s world record represents more than a standalone triumph; it cements the nation’s reputation as a breeding ground for sprinting talent and signals a bright summer ahead as athletes prepare for the world championships.
With her benchmark now set, Favour Ofili has raised the bar for women’s sprinting and put Nigerian athletics firmly in the global spotlight.