In continuation of Part1 of our series on Nigeria’s Top 10 Female Sprinters in 2025, Part 2 dives into the real pace-setters of the season. From seasoned veterans proving their consistency, to rising stars shaking up the scene, these five women left their marks this season.
5. Patience Okon George
The veteran Patience Okon George, now in her 13th season on the senior circuit, delivered another solid year home and abroad. She opened her campaign at the MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays in Lagos, winning the women’s 400m in a Season’s Best (SB) of 52.67s, and later anchored the mixed 4x400m squad to a 3:21.63 finish.
Competing for Rivers State, Okon George broke the National Sports Festival (NSF) Record of 51.70s mark set by Imaobong Nse Uko in 2021—running 51.62s, her fastest full-lap since 2018. At the Nigerian Championships, she posted the overall fastest semifinal time of 51.92s but was disqualified in the final after a false start.
Her international form remained consistent as she won Silver in the women’s 400m (52.09s) and GOLD in the 4x400m at the CAA Region II Meet in Ghana. She concluded her season at the Islamic Solidarity Games with 51.93s for Silver in the 400m and anchored the mixed relay team to GOLD in an SB of 3:16.27 to finish ahead of Bahrain.
4. Ella Onojuvwevwo
Ella Onojuvwevwo made a huge statement in the NCAA this year. Early in the indoor season, the LSU junior lowered her indoor 400m Personal Best (PB) from 52.47s to a stunning 51.06s, making her the 3rd-fastest Nigerian ever indoors and the fastest since Regina George’s 51.06 in 2013. She went on to place 4th at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 51.61s.
Outdoors, Onojuvwevwo dipped under 51s three times, running 50.99s at the Eastern Regionals to qualify for NCAAs. At the NCAA Championships, she placed 4th with 50.57s, but her biggest highlight came in the semifinals where she clocked a massive PB of 50.31s—the fastest by a Nigerian since Falilat Ogunkoya in 2000. That time elevated her to 5th on Nigeria’s all-time list and 3rd fastest African woman over 400m in 2025.
3. Tima Godbless
After competing in just two indoor races last year due to injury, Tima Godbless returned with intent and delivered a breakthrough season. She opened her 60m campaign at the LSU Purple Tigers Invitational with a huge PB of 7.22s (previously 7.77s). She then exploded to a 7.08s PB at the Tyson Invitational, climbing to 4th on Nigeria’s all-time list. She placed 4th at the SEC Championships but was unfortunately disqualified for a false start at the NCAA Indoors.
Using that setback as motivation, Godbless had an excellent outdoor season. She won the Tom Jones Invitational 200m in 22.55s (PB) and placed 2nd in the 100m with 11.14s. She then finished 2nd at SECs in 11.06s, before joining the prestigious sub-11 club with a blistering 10.91s at the NCAA East Regionals—becoming the 5th fastest Nigerian ever.
She qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m for the second straight year. At nationals, she won Bronze in the 100m (11.19, after a 10.91w in the semis), placed 10th in the 200m (22.59), and helped LSU finish 6th in the 4x100m (43.32).
2. Rosemary Chukwuma
In her first season as a professional athlete—after five years in the NJCAA and NCAA—Rosemary Chukwuma put together a commendable campaign. She opened with a time of 11.08s under windy conditions and later won the LSU Alumni Gold in an SB of 11.27s despite a strong headwind.
She secured qualification for the World Championships after winning Final B at the Star Athletics Sprint Series in 11.03s (SB). However, several of her subsequent races were wind-aided, including 10.98 (3.1m/s) and 10.93 (3.9m/s). Her Diamond League debut came in Eugene, where she posted a wind-legal 11.09s for 4th. She later ran another wind-aided 10.90s for 2nd at the Ed Murphey Classic.
At the World Championships—her third appearance—Chukwuma bowed out in the heats after placing 5th in 11.27s.
1. Tobi Amusan
Tobi Amusan reclaimed her No. 1 spot in our rankings after a revitalized 2025 season—her best since her historic 2022 campaign. The World Record (WR) holder opened with an SB of 12.74s before winning the Rabat Diamond League in 12.45s.
She produced her fastest time since her 12.12s WR with a sensational 12.24s in Paris. Days later, she won the Ostrava Golden Spike in 12.45s, followed by a strong 12.38s for 2nd at the Eugene Diamond League. Amusan secured her fifth straight National title in 12.57s, then ran 12.25s—the 3rd fastest of her career—for 3rd in Chorzow.
At the World Championships in Tokyo, with redemption on the line after past heartbreaks, Amusan delivered. She advanced smoothly from the heats, then topped the semifinals with 12.36s. In the final, she executed a composed, tactical race to win Silver in 12.29s, tying her 4th fastest career time and becoming only the third Nigerian with two individual World Championships medals.
Her Silver was Nigeria’s only medal at the Championships and extended her reign as Africa’s fastest woman in the 100m hurdles for 10 consecutive seasons.
