Louisiana State University in Texas, USA has formally announced the signing of Nigerian sprinter, Tima Godbless on scholarship as a student athlete.
The University says on its website that Godbless has become a tiger and will start competing for the school in the collegiate athletics during the outdoor season.
‘World class sprinter Tima Godbless of Nigeria has signed a national-letter-of-intent with the LSU women’s track and field program’, coach Dennis Shaver announced Friday.
‘Tima is a great talent and someone who will immediately have an impact on our team,’ Shaver said. ‘She has exceptional sprint performances for her young age.’
Godbless had a breakout season this year, as she made her first international senior debut at the African Championships in Mauritius, competing in the 100m and the 4 x 100m relay.
In the 100m semifinal, the 18-year-old ran a personal best of 11.25 seconds, smashing her previous best of 11.48 seconds. In the 100m final, she placed fourth in 11.27 seconds, and she then helped lead Nigeria to a gold medal in the 4 x 100m relay.
At the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, Godbless ran a national U20 record and a new personal best of 11.09 seconds in the 100m semifinal, making her the fourth fastest Nigerian woman this year.
The time is also the second fastest by an African U20 athlete after Christine Mboma’s 10.97 seconds run in April.
Outdoors, it makes Godbless the 24th fastest African in the all-time list while she is the 12th fastest Nigerian ever over the distance.
Godbless will become the third Nigerian woman on the roster of the LSU athletics team after Favour Ofili and Ella Onojuvwevwo.
