Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
Tobi Amusan has become the first Nigerian athlete to win a World Athletics Championship gold as she stormed to victory in the women’s 100m hurdles in Oregon, USA on Sunday (Monday morning, local time).
Amusan, who had earlier broken the world record in an astonishing semi-final where she clocked 12.12sec, powered over the line at Hayward Field in 12.06sec.
Jamaica’s Britany Anderson took silver in 12.23sec, while Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico claimed bronze in 12.23sec.
The 25-year-old Amusan had produced a jaw-dropping world record in the semi-finals, smashing the previous best mark of 12.20secs held by Keni Harrison of the United States in 2016.
Speaking after the race, she said, “Honestly, I believe in my abilities but I was not expecting a world record at these championships.”
“The goal is always just to execute well and get the win. So the world record is a bonus. I knew I had it in me but I could not believe it when I saw it on the screen after the semis.
“Before the final, I just tried to stay calm and to do my best. I took a deep breath knowing that I have some goals to accomplish and it worked pretty good. I knew it was very fast but not this fast,” Amusan said after her final victory.
The victory has been welcomed by Nigerians who sympathised with the champion after a faulty electronic timer marred her chances of breaking Gloria Alozie’s 23-year African record in the final of the women’s 100m hurdles at the Olympics Trials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos in June last year.
