The phrase “God bless the start,”  spoken by the commentator, perfectly captured the moment as the women’s 100m event got underway at the NCAA East Prelims in Florida. From the instant the starting gun fired, a 20-year-old LSU Tigers sprinter took control, seemingly carried by the wind. At the halfway mark, she faced serious pressure from Olympian Joella Lloyd, who closed in dangerously. But the LSU athlete held her ground and powered ahead to claim a thrilling victory in the prelims. As the race concluded, the commentator added with excitement, “God bless! Just what the doctor ordered. That’s such a fitting name.” So, what exactly unfolded? A breakout performance and a win that lived up to the hype—name and all.

Soon after, LSU Track & Field’s official X account shared a powerful post with the caption, “TIMA GODBLESS. WELCOME TO THE SUB-11 CLUB.” The post featured a clever image mimicking the wikiHow homepage—except this version had LSU head coach Dennis Shaver’s face and a headline reading, “How to run fast asap.” It was a playful yet meaningful nod to another LSU athlete breaking the sub-11-second barrier in the NCAA women’s 100m.

For Tima Godbless, the realization took a moment to sink in—she had officially joined the elite ranks of standout sprinters shaped by the LSU Tigers over the years. As the camera focused on Tima Godbless, tears streamed down the Nigerian sprinter’s face—a powerful moment that captured the emotion of her achievement. The clip was later posted by the Instagram account runnnsphere, with the caption, “POV: YOU ACHIEVE A LIFETIME BEST.”

The video also featured Leah Bertrand, the Buckeyes sprinter, who was equally emotional after running a personal best of 10.92 seconds in the same race. But what made Tima’s moment stand out was something more—something uniquely special about her journey and performance that went beyond just the time on the clock. On May 29, Tima Godbless lit up the track at the NCAA East Prelims in Florida with a sensational personal best of 10.91 seconds (+1.2 m/s) in the first heat of the women’s 100m.

It was more than just a race—it was a breakthrough. For the first time in her career, she dipped under the 11-second barrier, etching her name into the history books as the fourth-fastest Nigerian woman ever, trailing only legends Blessing Okagbare (10.79s), Rosemary Chukwuma (10.88s), and Glory Alozie (10.90s). And to top it off, her time currently leads the global rankings for 2025. But that’s not where the story ends.

Godbless has now joined the elite club of LSU women who have shattered the sub-11 mark, becoming the fifth Tiger to do so. At the top of that list still reigns Sha’Carri Richardson, with her blazing 10.75-second record. The difference between them? Just 0.16 seconds. A slim margin in sprinting terms, but a mountain that only a few have climbed.

The question now is, can Tima close that gap? She’s advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals as the leading contender for a spot at the NCAA Championships. All eyes will be on the track—because if her 10.91 was the statement, then Friday might just be the exclamation point. No matter what happens, Tima Godbless has already raised the bar and given the world a reason to believe there’s more magic to come.

The LSU Tigers track and field athlete has shown signs of claiming peaks 

This season, Tima Godbless has been on a mission, lining up in multiple 100m races and consistently delivering sub-12 finishes. But let’s rewind for a moment. Just last year, she stood on the grandest stage of all—the Paris Olympics—representing Nigeria in the women’s 100m. It was a tough outing. In the preliminary round, she clocked 11.33 seconds (-0.2 m/s), finishing seventh and bowing out early.

Still, throughout the 2024 season, she maintained a steady rhythm, consistently running in the sub-12 range. Fast forward to now, and what a difference a year makes. Tima has officially cracked the sub-11 barrier, joining sprinting’s elite with a stunning 10.91s at the NCAA East Prelims. It’s not just a personal best—it’s a leap into a new league.

From Olympic disappointment to global front-runner in 2025, the transformation has been nothing short of electric. So, what’s next? Can she go even faster? The signs say yes. Momentum is on the track and field athlete’s side, confidence is rising, and the gap to the very top, just tenths of a second, is suddenly within reach. Tima Godbless isn’t just running races anymore. She’s chasing greatness.