Tobi Amusan, Nigeria’s Queen of Track and Field, broke a new record by winning her race at the just concluded Diamond League (Eugene 2023).
Tobi Amusan won her third Diamond League title in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, USA, on Sunday.
The Nigerian athlete won with a blazing effort, setting a season-best time of 12.33 seconds.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico finished second (12.38), with America’s Keni Harrison finishing third (12.44). Meanwhile, World Champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica could only manage a fourth-place finish (12.47).
After enduring some tough times amid a provisional suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) following allegations of missing drug tests, Tobi Amusan has managed to bounce back in grand style.
Speaking after winning her race, the African 100m Hurdle Record holder said she asked God for strength and was also prepared to give her best.
“I came out here and said it’s my race to lose and I will give my all. I said it’s 200 or nothing, because 100 %, I am not winning today. So I came out here and I told God to give me the strength”
“I said this (racing in Eugene) is God’s track. I came here I’m like ‘this is my track, I’m going to dominate’ and God did just that.”
“Right now I just want to rest. I’m just grateful to God, that’s all I can say this season. This win is not about me, it’s for my coach, my family, for everyone who supported me throughout this year. It’s been a rough one and I’m just thankful.”
The Diamond League win draws a curtain to what has been an eventful 2023 for Amusan, who would now turn her attention to the 2024 Olympics.
The 26-year-old was not at her very best at the World Championships in Budapest after being cleared of any doping violation a few days before her event.
Although Tobi Amusan did get to the final, she couldn’t retain her 100m World Title, finishing a distant 6th. The good news, however, is that her World Record time still stands.
