World record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, commenced her 2026 campaign with a commendable performance, securing second place in the women’s 200m at the Velocity Fest in Jamaica.
Amusan, renowned for her achievements in the hurdles, demonstrated her adaptability on the track by achieving a season’s best time of 23.25 seconds.
Her performance was sufficient to earn her a second-place finish, trailing behind Jamaican sprint legend Elaine Thompson-Herah, who clinched victory in 22.61 seconds. Another Jamaican athlete, Ackera Nugent, finished third with a time of 23.35 seconds in a highly competitive field.
This outing signifies a promising beginning to the season for Amusan, who is progressively enhancing her form in anticipation of significant international competitions.
It also marked her first race since the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where she was Nigeria’s only medallist, securing a silver medal.
Among the events she is confirmed to participate in this season is the Prefontaine Classic, where she will return to her specialty, the 100m hurdles, in Eugene on July 4.
The event, which is part of the Diamond League series, will be held at Hayward Field and is anticipated to showcase one of the most formidable fields in the discipline this season.
Amusan, who holds the world record of 12.12 seconds, is poised to compete against reigning Olympic champion Masai Russell, two-time world champion Danielle Williams, and World Championships bronze medallist Grace Stark.
At 28 years old, she has experienced considerable success in Eugene previously, having won her first world title and established the current world record at the venue during the 2022 World Championships. She subsequently returned to secure the Diamond League final title there in 2023.
Amusan has also solidified her status as one of the most dominant athletes in the event over the past decade, winning the Diamond League final for three consecutive seasons from 2021 to 2023.
