Nigerian sprint hurdler Adaobi blazed her way into new territory over the weekend, delivering a sensational performance at the prestigious Florida Relays.
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The UCF senior clocked an impressive 12.93s (+2.1 m/s) to finish third in the women’s 100m hurdles final—marking the first time in her career she has dipped under the 13-second barrier.
The race was won by standout athlete Habiba Harris, who stopped the clock at 12.69s, while Adaobi’s effort was enough to solidify her place among the emerging talents in collegiate hurdling.
Though the wind reading of +2.1 m/s rendered the time ineligible for record purposes, it still stands as a significant personal milestone.
Adaobi’s rise has been steady and intentional. Her breakthrough began at the Big 12 Indoor Championships, where she stormed to a silver medal in the women’s 60m hurdles with a time of 7.99s—her first time under 8 seconds in the event.
Now with outdoor season in full swing, Adaobi looks poised to make even greater strides.
Her technical sharpness, speed between the hurdles, and growing confidence on the big stage suggest that legal sub-13 times are well within reach in the coming weeks.
With the NCAA Championships on the horizon and potential national team call-ups looming, Adaobi’s mission is clear—and she’s hurdling every challenge in her path with fiery determination.
