BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Nigeria’s star hurdler and former World champion, Tobi Amusan secured a massive $75,000 payday on Friday after powering her way to a second-place finish in a thrilling women’s 100m hurdles final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
Amusan clocked an impressive 12.34 seconds, chasing down America’s Masai Russell, who ultimately stormed to victory in 12.22 seconds to claim the coveted $150,000 grand prize.
The former world record holder had earlier booked her path to the the star-studded final and the podium by securing second place in her semi-final heat with a time of 12.49 seconds.
In the semi-finals, Amusan was narrowly edged out by Devynne Charlton, who clocked a blistering 12.45 seconds to take the win. However, the Bahamian was unable to carry that momentum into the final, ultimately crossing the finish line in fourth place with a time of 12.40 seconds.
Meanwhile, American hurdler Russell capped off a thoroughly dominant performance at the event. After recording the fastest time in the semi-finals, she carried her brilliant form all the way through to the final, claiming both the title and the winner’s prize purse.
The result marked the third consecutive time Russell has finished ahead of Amusan this season, having also beaten the Nigerian at the Zurich Diamond League, where she broke Amusan’s world record of 12.12 seconds.
The Record-Breaking Run
In a breathtaking display of speed at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, the American star, clocking a stunning 12.09 seconds, shaved three hundredths of a second off the previous record. Amusan had proudly owned that record of 12.12 seconds for four full years. She first set that incredible time back in 2022 during the semi-finals at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The Rivalry Continues
Interestingly, Amusan was right there on the track in Zurich to witness her historic mark fall with the flawless performance of Russell. The momentum continued when Russell stayed ahead of the Nigerian champion in subsequent matchups, closing out another fierce battle on the track. – With agency reports
