Tobi Amusan Begins Title Defense with 100m Heat Win in Budapest

In a strong display of her championship prowess, Tobi Amusan, the reigning World Champion in the women’s 100m hurdles, kickstarted her title defense campaign at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest on a resounding note. Dominating Heat 5 of the competition, Amusan crossed the finish line with a commanding time of 12.48 seconds.

Amusan, holder of the world hurdles record, exhibited her exceptional speed and agility by clocking an impressive 12.48s (with a wind reading of +0.4) in the fifth heat of the women’s 100m hurdles. Despite a brisk start, she managed to maintain her momentum until the finish line, securing victory at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary.

The Nigerian athlete overcame a somewhat slow start and managed to outpace her competitors, notably Jamaican Champion Megan Tapper, who secured the second position with a time of 12.51s, and Australian athlete Michelle Jenneke, who finished third with a time of 12.71s.

Amusan’s presence in Heat 5 also featured notable athletes including Ebony Morrison, Michelle Jenneke, Maayke Tjin-a-lim, Natalia Christofi, Nika Glojnaric, and Maayke Tjin-a-lim.

With her outstanding performance in the heats, Tobi Amusan is set to lead the charge in the semi-finals scheduled for Wednesday at 7:20pm Nigerian time.

In the previous 2022 World Championship held in Eugene, USA, Amusan clinched victory with a time of 12.40, establishing a new African record. Subsequently, she shattered the world record by clocking an astonishing 12.12, surpassing the previous record of 12.20 set by Kendra Harrison in 2016.

It’s worth recalling that Amusan’s participation in the championship was initially shrouded in uncertainty as concerns emerged regarding her eligibility. However, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) quelled these apprehensions by confirming her clearance just two days before the championship’s commencement.

The Disciplinary Tribunal, in a majority decision, ruled that Tobi Amusan had not violated any Anti-Doping Rule, specifically the Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period, thus allowing her to compete with integrity.

Amusan, a beacon of Nigeria’s aspirations for medals in the championship, remains a focal point after compatriot Ese Brume began the event with a fourth-place finish in the women’s long jump event.

Having set a blazing world record of 12.12 seconds in the women’s 100m hurdles at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Oregon, Tobi Amusan is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in her pursuit of retaining the world title.