Ogundiran Says Her Incredible 10.98 Run Was a Dream Realized

Blessing Ogundiran says her incredible run on Saturday at the South Florida Invitational, where she broke the 11-second barrier in the 100m for the first time in her career, was ‘a dream realized, a prayer answered, and a testimony of God’s faithfulness.’

In a heartfelt Facebook post after the race, the Warner University freshman wrote:

‘Words fail me right now… Today, I just ran a world-leading time of 10.98 seconds, and my heart is overflowing with gratitude and tears of joy. This is not just a number on the clock, it’s a dream realized, a prayer answered, and a testimony of God’s faithfulness in my life.’

Ogundiran went on to thank God, her coaches, and her supporters:

‘To God Almighty, the Author and Finisher of my faith, thank You! Thank You for this incredible blessing, for the strength, the speed, and the overwhelming joy You’ve poured into my life. None of this would be possible without You. I am forever grateful.

‘To my coach T (Taiwo Ariyo), thank you so much, sir. Your belief in me, your guidance, your sacrifices, and your relentless push have shaped me into who I am today. I couldn’t have done this without you.

‘To my Nigerian coach, Abbey, thank you sir. I love you deeply. Your wisdom, support, and fatherly care mean the world to me.

‘And to all my amazing friends and family who have supported me, prayed for me, encouraged me, and stood by me through every training session and every doubt, God bless you all richly. Your love and prayers carried me here. I feel every single one of them.

‘This moment belongs to God, my coaches, my team, and everyone who believed in me. Thank you. From the bottom of my overflowing heart, THANK YOU!”

Ogundiran’s emotional words followed a historic sprint that stunned the athletics world. She clocked 10.98 seconds to clinch victory, obliterating her own NAIA record of 11.21 seconds.

Her electrifying run places her joint-top in the global rankings for the 2026 season, making her one of only two women worldwide to dip under the 11-second barrier this year, alongside Jamaica’s Shanoya Mikalia Douglas.

The achievement also cements Ogundiran’s status as the ninth Nigerian woman ever to break the 11-second mark.