Ofili Makes Grand Slam Debut in Miami
Byline: IDNN Track & Field Desk
Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili delivered a standout performance on her debut at the Grand Slam Track event in Miami, securing third place in a fiercely contested women’s 100m race.
Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the event impressively, clocking 10.75 seconds, closely followed by Tamari Davis at 10.79 seconds. Ofili showcased her talent with a solid 10.94 seconds finish, reinforcing her position as a rising global athletics star.
Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas also made headlines, running her first-ever sub-11-second race to finish fourth in 10.97 seconds.
The Grand Slam Track series, featuring 96 elite athletes competing for substantial prize money, is quickly establishing itself as a critical platform for professional sprinters. Ofili, who missed the opening leg in Kingston, Jamaica, earlier this month, is eager to capitalize on this global exposure, with upcoming events in Philadelphia and Los Angeles promising further opportunities to shine.
Amusan Faces Growing Competition, Sets Season-Best in China
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s world record-holding hurdler Tobi Amusan is slowly finding her rhythm this season. Competing in Keqiao, China, she secured fourth place in the women’s 100m hurdles with a season-best time of 12.66 seconds. American Grace Stark clinched the gold in 12.42 seconds, followed by reigning World Champion Danielle Williams (12.55 seconds) and South Africa’s Marione Fourie (12.62 seconds).
The race underscored the growing competition Amusan faces this year. Earlier, Olympic champion Masai Russell narrowly missed breaking Amusan’s world record at the Grand Slam Track in Miramar, Florida, clocking an American record of 12.17 seconds, the second-fastest time ever.
Road Ahead for Nigerian Athletics
As the track season unfolds, both Ofili and Amusan have pivotal competitions ahead. Amusan will join Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad for the World Relays in Guangzhou, China, before returning to individual action at the Diamond League in Doha.
Ofili continues her campaign in the Grand Slam Track series, which next heads to Franklin Field in Philadelphia (May 30-June 1), concluding at UCLA’s Drake Stadium in Los Angeles (June 27-29).
Both athletes represent Nigeria’s powerful presence on the international athletics stage, setting high expectations as they build momentum towards major championships, including the World Athletics Championships and the 2025 Diamond League finals.
