After being scrubbed out from the women’s 100m, Favour Ofili Sunday morning finally fulfilled her long wish of competing in the Olympics.
She bounced back after a week of feuding with Nigerian athletics officials with robust 22.24secs to win the sixth heat of the women’s 200m, which was her season’s best. To have a shot at the podium, she has to cough out her 2021 personal best of 21.96 seconds.
Gabby Thomas of the USA ran 22.20 in her heats and 100m champion, Jullen Alfred chasing a double ran 22.41secs in heat leading to the semi-final billed for Monday. Ofili with her effort looks good for final and a podium appearance, if she maintains her focus and consistentcy.
Five women have gone under 22 secs this season and four of them are in the semi-final. They include Thomas with a world leading time of 21.78 secs, her American compatriots Mckenzie Long Brittany Brown and St Lucia’s hero Alfred.