Tobi Amusan wins gold and also sets new record in Taiwan

Tobi Amusan, the Nigerian sprinter, claimed gold in the women’s 100m hurdles at the New Taipei Athletics Open in Taiwan on Saturday, June 6.

The 29-year-old finished ahead of Taiwan’s Bo Ya Zhang, who took silver with a time of 13.17 seconds, and Yi Po-an, who settled for bronze in 13.37 seconds. Amusan’s winning time of 12.72 seconds also set a new meeting record, shaving 0.08 seconds off the previous mark of 12.80 seconds held by Nia Ali, the American Olympic silver medallist and former world champion.

She dominated her qualifying heat, easily outpacing the competition in Heat 2, and carried that form into the final. She delivered a commanding performance that excited the crowd, seizing the lead outright after the fourth hurdle and leaving Zhang behind.

The three-time Senior Africa Athletics Championship winner crossed the finish line well before the last remaining competitor had cleared the final hurdle, much to the amazement of cheering spectators. This marks the second consecutive race this season in which Amusan has broken a meeting record. She previously set a new event record in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Rabat Diamond League.

She has now won three of her five races this season and has finished on the podium in every competition she has entered.