Ofili plans surprise gift for Nigerians, Akintola in high spirit for 200m showdowns

Nigeria’s Favour Ofili competes to take first place during the women’s 200m round 1 athletics event at the Alexander Stadium, in Birmingham on day seven of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, central England, on August 4, 2022. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Two U.S.-based sprinters, Alaba Akintola and Favour Ofili, will be in action this evening to seek qualification tickets in the 200m male and female events.
Akintola entered the second round of the 200m event yesterday by finishing third in Heat Seven in 20.54 seconds.

The Tennessee, U.S.-based sprinter, with a personal best time of 20.26 seconds and season’s best time of 20.43 seconds, told The Guardian this morning at their Park Inn hotel, Radisson, that he is in high spirits and that he would do his best to pick up a ticket to the next round of the 200m event today.

“I am going to the stadium with a believe that anything can happen. It is a game for the best of the best, and I have prepared myself for the challenges here.”

The men’s 200m heat continues this evening at the National Athletics Stadium in Budapest

Another U.S.-based star, Nigeria’s Favour Ofili, who picked her ticket for a second straight 200m semifinals after running 22.66 seconds in the first round to qualify as one of the six non-automatic qualifiers, is confident of giving Nigerians a surprise gift today.

Ofili came fourth in her first round heat and her time, the second fastest she has run this outdoor season.

She holds Nigeria’s 200m indoor record (22.11) and outdoor (21.96) and will need to run close to that to secure her place in the final.

Last year, the 20-year-old exited the event at the semifinal stage after running 22.30 seconds to finish third.

In today’s semifinal, Ofili will have to go the extra