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By: Abiodun Adewale.
World record holder, Tobi Amusan, is looking forward to carrying her improved form to the 2023 World Athletics Championships, which holds from August 19 to 27 in Budapest, Hungary, after running a new season’s best of 12.34secs to win the women’s 100m hurdles at the Silesia Diamond League meeting in Poland on Sunday.
Her time also equaled the meeting record set by Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho Quinn in 2022.
With Camacho Quinn not on the starting list again, the Nigerian faced stiff competition in Kendra Harrison, Tia Jones and even Ali Nia, but she beat Harrison and Nia by photo finish, after flying over the last three barriers.
Amusan admitted she didn’t have an easy start to the race but the results showed great improvement ahead of her title defence in Hungary.
“It was not easy for me with injuries in my hamstring and my knee. But I trusted in my coach and my work. It is all about the process. I just won this in a smooth style, I was just running. Honestly, I had no idea that I won when I crossed the finish line,” she said.
“About the World Championships, I take it one step after the next. I am most definitely building up for the World Championships, extremely satisfied with my SB – one step at a time.
“About my start — I would not say that I executed, but the second part of the race was really good. I knew it was going to be a battle until the finish line. I am happy to compete against the best. I am just out here doing well; I would not say that I am the best. I came out there and I was not feeling too good.”
Amusan’s new season’s best is a significant improvement on her previous time of 12.47secs at the Ostrava Golden Spike Meet in June.
