2024 Nigeria Olympic Trials: Favour Ofili storms to first national title and Paris qualification to become Nigeria’s fastest woman
Favour Ofili is Nigeria’s new 100m champion and automatic qualifier for the Paris Games after winning the Olympic trials in Benin to become the fastest woman in the country.
Delayed but not denied, Favour Ofili made a triumphant return on home soil by winning the women’s 100m national title at the Nigeria Olympic trials as her time also surpassed the Paris Olympics qualifying standard.
Ofili, who last raced in Nigeria in 2021, continued with her brilliant 2024 season at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin. She came to the trials not just as the favourite to win, but most importantly, with another chance of hitting the Paris Olympic qualifying 100m standard.
The talented speedster began her chase with a statement victory and Season’s Best (SB) of 11.17s in the semifinals – the fastest overall time.
Less than two hours later and in the absence of her fierce rival Rosemary Chukwuma in the final, Ofili had just one goal in mind – secure her Olympic ticket and win her first national senior title.
She did both astonishingly by blazing to an impressive new SB of 11.06s, a time good enough to automatically surpass the Olympic qualifying standard of 11.10s.
African Games revelation Olayinka Olajide was second in 11.37s, while Justina Eyakpobeyan secured the last podium placement in 11.47s.With Ofili’s victory and ticket to Paris, this means she has now qualified for the Olympic Games in the 100m and 200m events, and earned the bragging rights of being called Nigeria’s fastest woman for the next year.
