Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, may be settling into the new season with two hurdles events under her belt, but her rivals are already closing in on her record. Amusan set the 12.12s record at the World Championships in 2022, but recent performances suggest that her dominance may be under threat.
In her second hurdles event of the season in Keqiao, China, Amusan placed fourth with a new season’s best of 12.66s. The race was won by the USA’s Grace Stark with a time of 12.42s, followed by reigning World Champion Danielle Williams in 12.55s, and South Africa’s Fourie Marione in 12.62s.
Meanwhile, Olympic champion Masai Russell has been making waves in the track and field scene. Russell clocked a new American record and the second-fastest time in history to win the women’s 100m hurdles event at the Grand Slam Track in Miramar, Florida, with a time of 12.17s. This performance is just five milliseconds shy of Amusan’s record.
Russell’s win was impressive, and she demonstrated brilliant form from the start to the finish line. Tia Jones also delivered an outstanding performance, clocking a new personal best of 12.19s to finish second, while Ackera Nugent took third place with a time of 12.34s. Notably, this was the first time two women have broken the 12.20s barrier in one race, setting the stage for an exciting season.
Amusan’s season-opening time last weekend in Xiamen was 12.75s, and she currently ranks fourth in the Diamond League standings with five points. With the next Diamond League meeting scheduled for Doha, Qatar on May 16, Amusan will turn her attention to national team duties, including Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay team for the World Relays in Guangzhou, China this month.
The competition is heating up, and Amusan will need to be at her best to maintain her dominance in the sport. With other contenders set to compete in Philadelphia from May 30 to June 1, the stage is set for a thrilling season in the women’s 100m hurdles.