Nigeria’s Queen of the hurdles, and world record holder in the same event, Tobi Amusan was in her sparking best on Sunday when winning the women’s 100 meters hurdles Wanda Diamond League at the Silesia Stadium, in the City of Chorzó, Poland, in a new meeting time of 12.34 Seconds.
Amusan’s blistering record-setting performance, came at the back of her winning comfortably, the Nigerian national trials in Benin City in a time of 12.70 Seconds, in wet conditions to book her ticket to the world championships, in Budapest. It was the third time in a row that Amusan won the national title.
Amusan, who is also the world record holder in women’s 100m Hurdles, won in Poland ahead of the United States of America duo, Kendra Harrison and Ali Nia; by setting a new meeting record and a new season’s best.
The reigning world champion only won on the finish-line by fractions of seconds, in a typical photo finish; as Harrison Kendra was also given the same 12.34 Seconds, whilst Ali Nia placed third with a time of 12.38 Seconds.
The 26-year-old Amusan had prior to the Nigerian trials, defeated Sarah Avalanche of Ireland, who finished second in 12.73 seconds, while Pia Skrzyszowska
Poland claimed the bronze medal in 12.78 Seconds; to win the Stockholm Diamond League with an impressive time of 12.52 seconds.
The double Commonwealth Games champion will go on to defend her world title, and possibly her world record of 12.12 Seconds, at the World Athletics Championships, in Hungary, the capital of Budapest, from August 19-27, 2023.
Amusan has finished 2nd, 4th, and even 8th in her last three outings of the season, that’s prior to her inspiring run in Stockholm, where she won it with a time of 12.52 Seconds. These are terrible numbers for an athlete who only ten months ago broke the world record and became the world champion.
To make matters worse, her major rival, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, won the race in Los Angeles with a new World Lead of 12.31 Seconds; making some pundits to conclude that she is feeling the pressure of maintaining the level of excellence, that saw her break the World Record in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
With the worlds precisely one month away, it will be interesting to see how the Ogun State-born hurdler handles the immense weight of expectations from fans, sponsors, and even herself.
