Nigerian sprint queen Tobi Amusan delivered one of her finest performances of the season at the Paris Diamond League by clocking an impressive 12.24 seconds in the women’s 100m hurdles.
Although she narrowly missed out on victory, finishing second behind America’s Grace Stark, her effort still stands as her season’s best and the second-fastest time of her illustrious career.
Amusan’s blistering run came just fractions behind her world record of 12.12 seconds set in 2022. Notably, she surged strongly in the closing metres, applying immense pressure on Stark, who had exploded off the blocks and maintained her lead.
Stark’s winning time of 12.21 seconds not only earned her a personal best but also a new meet record. This made her the fifth-fastest woman ever in the event.
The race was fiercely contested, as Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent also delivered a brilliant performance to secure third place with a time of 12.30 seconds.
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After beginning the Diamond League campaign with two modest fourth-place finishes in Xiamen (12.74s) and Shaoxing (12.66s), the Nigerian superstar turned the tide in Rabat. There, she clinched her first Diamond League victory of the year with a stunning 12.45 seconds, also setting a new meet record in the process.
Paris marked her fourth appearance on the Diamond League circuit this season, and her form has notably sharpened with each race.
Facing an elite field that included the likes of world medallist Keni Harrison, Jamaica’s rising sensation Nugent, Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska, Dutch champion Nadine Visser, and Bahamian star Devynne Charlton, Amusan showed why she remains a dominant force in global hurdling.
Moreover, Amusan’s consistency is paying off in the Diamond League standings. She currently sits fourth overall with 10 points. Amusan trails behind Stark (23 points), Danielle Williams (15 points), and Marione Fourie (12 points). However, with races still to come, she is well positioned to close the gap as qualification for the grand finale in Zurich intensifies.
Importantly, this performance serves as a timely confidence booster with the World Championships fast approaching.
As the race for Diamond League supremacy heats up, all eyes remain on Tobi Amusan, who continues to fly Nigeria’s flag high.
Tags: Tobi Amusan, Paris Diamond League, #DiamondLeague, Pia Skrzyszowska, Nadine Visser, Devynne Charlton, Keni Harrison, Xiamen, Shaoxing.
