A 2.4 m/s tail wind denied Nigeria’s Tobiloba Amusan the Commonwealth Games record after running 12.40 seconds to win her semifinal heat in the 100m hurdles at the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham on Friday.

The 25-year-old Nigerian had been tipped to break the 16-year-old 12.65 seconds Games record set by Jamaica’s Brigitte Foster-Hylton in Melbourne, Australia after running a new 12.12 seconds World record to win the world title in Oregon, USA last month.

Amusan will have another chance at having a go at the record in the final where she will also be eyeing history as the second woman in history to successfully defend a Commonwealth Games 100m hurdles title after Australian Sally Pearson did in 2014.

The Nigerian will face familiar foes in Saturday’s final including the Jamaican duo of Danielle Williams and Megan Tapper who edged Amusan to the bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships and the delayed Tokyo Olympics respectively.

Homegirl, Cindy Sember who celebrated her 28th birthday with a win in the semis will also be in contention for the title together with Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas.

By Dare Esan in Birmingham