Chukwuma Edges Ahead in 100m Rivalry with Ofili
Rosemary Chukwuma has moved 2-1 on her bossom friend and training partner Favour Ofili in their 100m head-to-head clashes after the 24-year-old sped to a wind-aided 10.81 at the Battle on the Bayou track meet held at the Bernie Moore Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Saturday. Ofili was second in the race in an equally wind-aided 10.93.
Chukwuma has now beaten Ofili twice in their three head-to-head clashes in the blue riband event.
She drew the first blood, as it were, during their NCAA days when she came in fourth (11.14) ahead of Ofili, who was fifth (11.17) at the 2022 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships final at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Ofili won the second race post-NCAA when she stormed to an incredible, albeit wind-aided, 10.78 finish to win at the ATX Sprint Classic in Georgetown, Texas, USA.
Chukwuma has now moved a step ahead with the win in Louisiana and holds the second-fastest time (10.88) by a Nigerian over the distance.
Interestingly, Chukwuma remains the only notable Nigerian athlete currently competing, and in the last five years, who has a better head-to-head 100m record over Ofili, the Paris 2024 Olympics 200m finalist who has served notice of switching allegiance from her country of birth and origin, Nigeria, to Turkey.
Ofili holds a 2-0 advantage over Victory Godah, 1-0 over Tima Godbless, Grace Nwokocha, Precious Nzeakor, Kate Odumosu, Olayinka Olajide, and Faith Osamuyi, and 3-0 over Success Umukoro.
