Ofili, Chukwuma to battle Ta Lou-Smith, Bass for African Athletics Championships 100m title

Reigning Nigeria 100m champion, Favour Ofili and the national leader in the event, Rosemary Chukwuma will, Friday afternoon in Douala, Cameroon, begin the battle to return Nigeria to the African Athletics Championships 100m podium as the champion 10 years after Blessing Okagbare last did in Marrakech, Morocco.

The Nigerians, including African Games silver medalist, Olajide Olayinka will however have to battle former African Championships queen, Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith of Cote d’Ivoire and defending champion, Gina Bass of the Gambia for the crown.

Chukwuma is the pre-Championships fastest woman following the 10.88 seconds she ran in Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA nearly a month ago and the 22 year old will feel confident of winning her first African Championships crown.

Ofili has had two huge runs (10.78 and 10.85) rendered illegal by excessive tail wind and the pretty 21 year old looks to be the athlete in form following the 11.06 seconds she ran to win first Nigerian Championships 100m title.

Chukwuma and Ofili are however up against a Ta Lou-Smith they have never raced against and who has built a reputation as one of the finest African sprinters of all time.

They are also a Bass, the reigning African Games champion who they have also never raced against.

Both Ta Lou-Smith and Bass have broken 11 seconds this year to make it just three athletes who have ran sub-11 seconds will start at the Championships.

Interestingly, two of these three athletes, Ta Lou-Smith and Chukwuma will compete in the first round seeking automatic qualification for the semifinal which will be run later Friday evening.

Ofili has been drawn to run from lane four in the second heat while Olajide will run from lane seven in the eighth heat.