United States-based Nigerian sprinter, Favour Ofili, has dedicated her 100m title at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Olympics Trials to her coach, who has “tolerated my stubbornness.”
Ofili ran a new personal season’s best of 11.06 seconds to secure her first Nigeria Championships 100m title on Sunday night at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
She defeated African Games silver medalist, Olayinka Olajide, who came second in 11.37s and Justina Eyakpobeyan, the Commonwealth Youth Games silver medal winner, who came in third in 11.47s.
The time also secured Ofili’s place in the 100m at the Paris Olympics. She has now won two individual titles at the Championships following her 200m win in 2019 in Kaduna.
AFN is using the national trials to select the nation’s athletes for both the African Senior Championships in Douala, Cameroon and the Paris Olympics.
Speaking with The Guardian after her race, Ofili said: “I thank God for making my qualification to the Paris Olympics possible here in Benin City because I was afraid of the wind. I must thank my coach for tolerating my stubbornness all these years.
“Everyone knows that I am stubborn, but my coach has shown great tolerance and the results have shown it.”
In the men’s 100m final also decided Sunday night, Kanyinsola Ajayi emerged as a first time Nigeria 100m title winner after speeding past (10.14) Alaba Akintola (10.16s) and defending champion, Usheoritse Itsekiri (10.22s.).
Ajayi was, however, unable to secure his passage to the Olympics at the Championships as he needs to run 10.00 seconds to do so.
In the men’s Shot Put, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi successfully defended his title with a 21.37m effort. It is his fourth straight title win and five overall after winning on his debut in the competition in Sapele in 2016.
Enekwechi told The Guardian that his focus now is on winning the African Senior Championships and also making the final at the Paris Olympics.
“Currently, I am the number eight thrower in the world. My prayer is making it to the final at Paris Olympics, and from there, anything can happen.”
