London, ON - Favour Okpali is a fourth year sprinter on the Western Mustangs Track and Field team and a graduate student in software engineering at Western University. In mid-November 2024, the Toronto native punched her ticket to the U SPORTS Championships in fine fashion, breaking a 41-year old arena record! She blasted a time of 1:29:82 in the 600m at Western's Purple and White meet.

The reigning U SPORTS 600m champion and 300m bronze medalist will be returning to defend her crown in Windsor, Ontario at the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse from March 6-8. Her performance so far this year saw her named one of the top 5 U SPORTS Track & Field athletes to watch in 2025 by Canadian Running Magazine.


 
In her final year of eligibility, Okpali is aiming to go out on a high note. Her rigorous training routine is a testament to her success in athletics thus far. "Before every workout I set myself a target time to run each rep, based on either my coach's pre-defined paces for the group, and what I believe I'm able to run. On Mondays I typically have a tempo/endurance workout more geared towards the 600/800 and then I lift weights after. Tuesdays are typically recovery so I either bike, elliptical, or go on a long run. Wednesdays are typically speed-endurance where we go faster and have longer rest, and this is followed by a lift. Thursdays are off. Fridays are speed where we do speed building workouts, drills, and sometimes block starts, but during competition weeks this is pre-competition. Saturdays are typically speed-endurance again followed by a lift but during competitions we compete. Sundays are also off", explained Okpali.
 
Alongside her coaches, Okpali has set some goals that are very much within her sights as an elite sprinter. "Favour [Okpali] is in her final year of eligibility, and our goal is to cap off her U SPORTS career by defending her 600m title and making a strong run at the 300m title, all while helping the women's team secure the U SPORTS championship", said Taylor Ehrhardt, an Assistant Coach with the Mustangs Track and Field team.
 
Going into meets, she puts trust in her practice to offset the pressure of the event. "High pressure moments are opportunities for me to trust that everything I've done leading up to that point-in-time has put me in a good position, so I trust that I have what it takes to perform my best", said Okpali.



Coach Ehrhardt also echoed the same mantra about trusting oneself. "While Favour has natural talent, I believe the key factor behind her breakout season in 2024 was her shift in mindset. She began to truly believe in her potential and put in the work to match it".

Ehrhardt's coaching philosophy is geared towards helping athletes like Okpali recognize their potential and helping them trust their instincts. "I firmly believe that athletes know their bodies better than anyone else, including me. By encouraging them to share how they feel and what they believe could enhance their performance, I help them become active participants in their success. This approach fosters a sense of responsibility and accountability", said Coach Ehrhardt.

Trusting herself in high pressure situations is something that has worked well for her in the past. "During the 600m finals at U SPORTS last year, I was thrown off my game at the 400m mark. One of the other athletes, who had won it the previous year, made a move on me, and I wasn't sure how to react because I hadn't experienced that before. Mentally, I decided to go all in and re-accelerate, even though I still had 200m to go. I hoped I had enough left to hold on for the rest of the race. It was a scary moment, as I was racing purely out of fear, but I was able to execute this strategy, which ultimately led to me winning the race and becoming a U SPORTS champion", said Okpali.
 
Although trusting herself in track and field has been very important for her success now, in her early days of athletics that wasn't the case. Her brother played a very important role in helping her realize just how talented and gifted she was before she decided to seriously commit to athletics.
 
"He was the one who encouraged me to start running and consistently pushed me to stick with it, even up until university, urging me to take it seriously. His belief in my potential has been a constant source of motivation. His encouragement has always pushed me to strive for improvement, even during challenging times." She said.
 
Fast forward a couple years and a handful of medals later with the Mustangs, and Okpali has enjoyed every minute. "I love the roller coaster ride of emotions that I get to experience on competition days — from warming up to getting on the start line, finishing the race, and, on days when I have multiple events, being able to refocus and prepare for the next race. Paired with this, I also like the aspect that T&F is both an individual and team sport. You have to do your part in your current events to help the team, as you are part of a larger picture where your success contributes to the team's success, and vice versa…Everyone is running together, cheering each other on, to run a collectively fast time, and anything can happen."
 
Now in her final year on the team, Okpali has demonstrated leadership on Western's track and field team throughout her university career. She was captain of the team from 2022-24 and emphasized the importance of teamwork in athletics. "Teamwork is very important to me because, even though we compete individually in this sport, we also win as a team, and honestly, that's a greater experience than winning alone. It's so rewarding to see how everyone's hard work throughout the season comes together on competition day toward a shared goal, and then to celebrate those wins together."
 
"My approach to leading by example is through staying committed and disciplined in my own training. I take my practices and lifting sessions seriously, putting in the effort to improve, and I encourage my teammates to do the same. I try to motivate and support them, showing that hard work and consistency lead to success. By demonstrating this mindset, I tried to inspire others to stay focused and give their best both in practice and during competitions", said Okpali.


 
Mustangs Track and Field Head Coach Vickie Croley spoke highly of Okpali's contributions to the team and her leadership. "Favour is one of the busiest athletes on our team at meets especially at Championship meets although she can often be found cheering on her teammates when she is not warming up or competing herself. She is genuinely interested and supportive of how her teammates are doing and she is very enthusiastic when cheering…As a strong female in Engineering she is also an incredible role model and mentor for engineering students in general as well as our student-athletes. She has also been an advocate for her teammates on non-track related issues. She does everything well and also has a sense of humour which is very refreshing", said Coach Croley.
 
Coach Croley has long been established as a valued and integral member of the London athletics community and it is clear she delights in seeing her athletes grow as people. "Honestly, yes I'm happy when they succeed in their sport especially if they do all the little things in addition to being fully committed and are rewarded for that by a strong performance or personal best. But I'm most rewarded by their success away from the track after their career as a Mustang. To see them successful in life and doing what they love is what makes me most happy for them, and proud."
 
Looking beyond this track and field season, Okpali is keeping an open mind. She's got ambitions in her field as a software engineer as she wraps up her Master's degree this year, but she's also very open to continuing her track and field career. "...I would love to be on the national team this year either for world indoors or world outdoors, or ideally both. It would be amazing to compete at the Olympics one day. Watching other U SPORTS athletes represent Team Canada in Paris was so inspiring. I'd love to join that U SPORTS-to-Olympian pipeline, but I also understand that a lot can happen in four years. I also would love to train and compete in a half-marathon this October. It's always been a life goal of mine! For now, I'm focusing on taking it one day at a time and staying committed to both my athletic and professional goals", explained Okpali.
 
Okpali has nothing but encouragement for the athletes that are aspiring to be successful at the collegiate level. "During every practice, workout, and competition, remember why you love this sport and stay grateful for the opportunity to be where you are. Let that gratitude and passion drive you to give your best effort every day. As long as you stay grounded and strive to improve each day, the sky's not even your limit", she said.
 
Okpali and the entire Mustangs Track & Field team opened 2025 with a very successful performance at the Windsor Can-Am meet. There were two school records, one meet record, seven new U SPORTS Auto qualifiers and several personal bests. Favour Okpali will next compete this weekend, when Mustangs Track & Field will host the Don Wright Team Challenge on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at Thompson Arena on Western's campus, starting around 9:30am. All are welcome to come and cheer on your Mustangs! Admission is free.