Simbine beats Omanyala, Onwuzurike to 100m title, Ofili sets new African record in 150m; Brume seals Olympics spot

Akani Simbine ran an incredible 9.90 world lead to win the 100m event at the adidas Atlanta City Games to send a warning to his rivals that he wants to turn fourth (2021) and fifth (2016) place finishes to a podium appearance at the Paris Olympics.

African record holder and reigning African and Commonwealth champion, Ferdinand Omanyala came in second in 10.00 while Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike ran a 10.12 personal season’s best to place fourth.

Favour Ofili is Africa’s fastest woman in 150m after the Nigerian ran a blistering 16.30 seconds at the adidas Atlanta City Games on Saturday at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
The 21 year old has thus supplanted Cote d’Ivoire’s Marie-Josee ta Lou-Smith (16.60) as Africa’s numero in the rarely run event.

The Nigerian clocked the same time as Candace Hill, the two time World Youth and World U20 champion who seems to be coming back to form to fulfill her potential.

Ofili didn’t have the best of starts but the 21 year old managed to race past Britain’s Daryll Neita (16.44 personal best) to chase Hill to the finish line.

The Louisiana State University, LSU, graduate now holds three records viz the Nigerian records in the 200m, indoors (22.11) and outdoor (21.96) as well as the African 150m champion.
In February, Ofili ran 35.99 over the 300m at the New Balance event , Boston, USA to set the second fastest time ever by an African behind Beatric Masilingi (34.60).

In the long jump, Ese Brume sealed her spot in Nigeria’s team to the Paris Olympics after jumping 6.87m at the event in Atlanta. The Nigerian began with 6.68m in the first round and 6.58m in her second round jump before leaping to a personal season’s best mark of 6.87m, one centimetre above the 6.86m qualifying mark set by World Athletics.