Tobi Amusan Begins World Championships Title Defence in Budapest

*American Richardson beats a star-students sprint  field to claim her first major title

Duro Ikhazuagbe

After she was freed of three whereabouts failures by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), World Record holder and Champions in the women’s 100m hurdles from the last edition, Tobi Amusan, will begin the defence of her title this evening at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

The petit Nigerian now fondly called ‘Tobi Express’, has been paired in the last Heat 5 to cruise to the semi finals. 

To race with Amusan in that Heat 5 is world ranked Number 9 Jamaican, Megan Tapper, who has a season best of 12.44secs which incidentally is also her PB.

Despite having gone through psychological torture by the accusations of evading dope tests by AIU, Amusan remains focused. She has done 12.34 in the Diamond League this season and is capable of further lowering her time here at Budapest. Her 12.12 secs World Record remains untouchable. 

Other sprint hurdlers to also watch out for in the other heats include American Nia Ali who has done a12.30 this season.She is ranked fifth by World Athletics. Her compatriot, Kendra Harrison is burning with the desire to reclaim her world record from Amusan. She has also done a 12.31 this season. She has a PB of 12.20 and is ranked fourth in the world .

Puerto Rico girl, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn with 12.31 this season is another threat lurking in the shadow to undo the Nigerian speedster. 

Camacho-Quinn also have a PB of 12.26 which puts her as one of the favorites for the gold.

Yesterday, Nigerian sprinter, Rosemary Chukwuma finished last in the women’s 100m semifinal. She clocked a slow 11.26. Ezekiel Nathaniel also could not progress into the final as he finished 6th in the men’s 400m hurdles. He could only manage a 49.22.

In the women’s 100m final yesterday, American Sha’Carri Richardson beats a star-studded field of rivals to claim her first major title.

Richardson, contesting her first major final at 23, clocked a championship record 10.65 secs to take the gold.

Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson took silver ahead of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Jackson, the reigning 200m champion, ran 10.72 secs as compatriot and record five-time champion Fraser-Pryce finished in 10.77.