Amusan broke 100m hurdles world record in the semi-final only to run faster in the final of the World Athletics Championship held in Oregon on Sunday
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigerian hurdler, Tobi Amusan, puts the country on the world map after breaking the 100m hurdles’ world record twice in just over an hour at the just concluded World Athletics Championship in Oregon on Sunday.
Amusan won the gold by running a stunning 12:12 seconds in the semi-final to smash America Keni Harrison’s 12:20 seconds record set 6 years ago, before powering over the line at Hayward Field in 12.06sec in the final.
Harrison had been left in Amusan’s slipstream in the semi and was again shown a clean pair of heels by the Nigerian in the final.
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Jamaica’s Britany Anderson took silver in 12.23sec, while Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico claimed bronze in 12.23.
“Before the final, I just tried to stay calm and to do my best. I took a deep breath knowing that I have some goal to accomplish and it worked pretty good. I knew it was very fast but not this fast.” Amusa said after winning the race.
World Athletics official handle also tweeted, “After breaking the world record in the semis, Tobi Amusan 🇳🇬 storms to world 100m hurdles title in the final”
Amusan got off to a scorching start and was smoothly into her stride after the first hurdle, building a clear lead and then pulling away ahead of Anderson and the fast-closing Camacho-Quinn.
Amusan, who was fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and the last world’s athletics championship in 2019, was the only Nigerian to win a gold medal at this year’s event.
