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By Peter Akinbo
World record holder in 100m hurdles, Tobi Amasun has opened her 2024 season with an African record in the women’s 60m hurdles.
Running at the World Athletics Indoor Tour in Astana Kazakhstan on Saturday, Amusan the world outdoor record holder at 12.12secs powered home to erase memories of a disappointing 2023 season.
The 26-year-old was provisionally suspended before the World Athletics Championships for missed drug tests. She was later cleared of doping volations with the provisioanl suspension on her lifted ahead of the comepetition.
She was dethroned in 2023 by Jamaica’s Danielle Williams after finishing sixth in the star-studded Championships final in Budapest, Hungary last year but she still finished 2023 on a high by winning her third consecutive Diamond League trophy.
In Astana, She coasted home in 7.77secs to set a new African record, erasing Glory Alozie’s 7.82 secs established since 1999.
The world record in the event is held by Swedish Sussan Kuller, a 7.68secs run since 2008.
Amusan, who is aiming to add the Olympics title to her collection of medals with the win in Astana, sounded a warning to her likely rivals in Paris 2024. She had earlier won heat 2 with 7.91secs and she ended the day with 7.77secs to emerge as champion.
She beat Doha 2019 World Champion, Nia Ali to the second place; the American posted 7.89secs, while Irish Sarah Lavin was third with 7.92 seconds.
The Commonwealth Games champion is expected to compete at the 2024 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston, United States next month.
