Ofili to race at Grand Slam Track opener next month in Jamaica

Nigeria’s 200m indoor and outdoor record holder and Olympic finalist, Favour Ofili has been named among the 48 challengers that will compete in the opening leg of the Grand Slam Track, the global home of professional track competition launched by four-time Olympic Champion Michael Johnson.

The Nigerian will compete in the women’s short sprint (100m and 200m) next month at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.

The 21-year-old will battle seven others (four racers and four challengers) led by 2019 World Championships 200m silver medalist and Paris 2024 Olympics bronze medal winner, Brittany Brown
and Great Britain’s Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, Daryll Neita.

Others are Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Alana Reid, Jacious Sears, Tamara Clark and Kemba Nelson.

The Nigerian will be racing for the $100,000 top prize money on offer for the winner of the Slam event.

The winner of the Slam for each event group will be the competitor with the highest point total across both events contested

According to Johnson, competitors will receive points for their finishing position in each of their two races. From 1st to 8th place the points are distributed as: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.

The competitor who finishes with the highest total number of points after the completion of both events will be crowned Slam Champion for their event group with prize money being paid out to each corresponding place.

In the case of a tie within an event group, the lowest combined time will be used to determine the winner of that event group for that Slam.

The eighth placed competitor will earn $10,000 in prize money. The first three placers will earn $100,000, $50, 000 and $30,000.

In addition to the prize money, Ofili, like other challengers will also be paid an appearance fee.

Ofili is the first Nigerian to that will compete in the event and will be hoping to win to guarantee a slot as a racer in the second Slam slated for early May in Miami, USA.