Favour Ofili on Sunday secured automatic qualification for the women’s 100m of the Paris 2024 Olympics after winning the final at the Samuel Ogbemudia, Stadium, Benin in a time of 11.06s (+0.1).
Ofili crossed the finish line first ahead of Olayinka Olajide who was second in 11.37s and Justina Eyakpobeyan, third in 11.47s.
The LSU graduate had earlier eased to the final, winning her semi-final heat in a Season’s Best time of 11.16s which she then lowered to win the final.
Ofili had shown signs of what was to expect at the national trials when she defeated a packed field which had Olympics Champion, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Aleia Hobbs, Gabby Thomas and Morolake Akinosun to win the New York Grand Prix last week.
She became the second Nigerian athlete – after Tima Godbless to clinch a double automatic qualifier for Paris Olympics.
A total of 16 Nigerian athletes have now automatically qualified for various individual track and field events at the 2024 Olympics. They are:
- Tobi Amusan (women’s 100mH)
- Ruth Usoro (women’s long jump)
- Udodi Onwuzurike (men’s 200m)
- Edose Ibadin (men’s 800m)
- Ezekiel Nathaniel (men’s 400mH)
- Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (men’s shot put)
- Favour Ashe (men’s 100m)
- Favour Ofili (women’s 100m, 200m)
- Ella Onojuvwevwo (women’s 400m)
- Rosemary Chukwuma (women’s 100m)
- Godson Brume (men’s 100m)
- Tima Godbless (women’s 100m, 200m)
- Samuel Ogazi (men’s 400m)
- Ese Brume (women’s long jump)
- Temitope Adeshina (women’s high jump)
- Chidi Okezie (men’s 400m)
In addition to the individual qualifications, Nigeria has also secured spots in the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m, women’s 4x100m, and mixed 4x400m relay events at the Paris Olympics.
The 2024 Olympic Games will be held in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11, 2024, with the track and field events scheduled to take place from August 1 to 11.
