Star girl, Ofili returns Nigeria to Olympics 200m final after 28 years!
Runs fastest 200m time by a Nigerian in Games history
Favour Ofili has made history as the second woman after Mary Onyali to qualify for the final of the 200m at the Olympics.
The Nigerian ran a new 22.05 personal season’s best to come second in her 200m semifinal heat behind reigning Olympics 100m champion, Julien Alfred to secure one of the two automatic tickets on offer in the heat.
The time is the fastest ever run by a Nigerian at the Games, supplanting the 22.16 Onyali ran in Atlanta, USA in 1996 on her way to winning a bronze medal in the event.
Ofili will now be aiming to become only the second Nigerian after Onyali to make it to the podium in the event.
The 21 year old will run in stacked final containing Alfred who the Nigerian has never beaten in all races, losing 5-0 in the 60m, 1-0 in the 100m and now 3-0 over the 200m.
The Nigerian will also face Gaby Thomas who won her heat in an incredible 21.86 and who she will be racing against for the first time.
Others who will line up in the final on Tuesday with the Nigerian include Mckenzie Long, the NCAA double sprint champion who Ofili defeated in the semifinals, Brittany Brown of the USA,
Daryll Neita of Great Britain, Dina Asher-Smith also of Great Britain and another African, Cote d’Ivoire’s Jessika Gbai who ran a new 22.36 lifetime best in qualifying for the final.
