Amusan clinches silver at the World Athletics Championships
Amusan clinches silver at the World Athletics Championships
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan claimed silver in the women’s 100m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Monday, finishing behind Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who delivered a stunning performance to win gold with a new national record.
Kambundji, 23, blazed to victory in 12.24 seconds, bettering her previous best to secure Switzerland’s first-ever world title in the event.
Amusan, the 2022 champion and world record holder, followed closely with 12.29 seconds to give Nigeria its 12th medal in World Championships history.
The bronze medal went to American Grace Stark, who clocked 12.34 seconds, while compatriot Masai Russell settled for fourth in 12.44 seconds after a slow reaction time of 0.240 – the weakest in the lineup.
Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska matched her season’s best of 12.49 seconds to take fifth place, narrowly ahead of Bahamian Devynne Charlton, who clocked the same time. Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, the 2023 world champion, settled for seventh in 12.53 seconds, while Nadine Visser of the Netherlands rounded out the field in eighth with 12.56 seconds.
Earlier in the semi-finals, Amusan looked dominant, winning her heat in 12.36 seconds ahead of Visser and Skrzyszowska, raising hopes of defending her title. However, in the final, despite a strong start, she could not withstand Kambundji’s powerful finish.
The outcome sees the 28-year-old Amusan secure another silver medal for Nigeria at the World Championships, adding to her historic 2022 triumph in Eugene, where she claimed gold and set the world record of 12.12 seconds.
