Tobi Amusan Targets Second World 100m Hurdles Crown in Tokyo

World record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, will be vying for her second world title on Monday (today), when the semi-finals and final of the event take place at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

Amusan, who became the first Nigerian to win a world title in athletics in Oregon 2022, will compete in the second semi-final at exactly 1:13 pm, with the hope of reaching the final and staking her claim for her first major title in two years.

The 28-year-old will line up against Hitoma Nakajima of Japan, Jamaica’s Amoi Brown, Nadine Visser of the Netherlands, Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska, USA’s Alaysha Johnson, Italy’s Elena Carraro and Finnish hurdler Saara Keskitalo.

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On Sunday, Amusan stormed to victory in a time of 12.53s to finish in first position in heat six, as she booked an automatic qualification spot for the semi-finals.

Other notable competitors in the event, including Olympic champion Masai Russell of the USA, reigning world champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica, as well as Dutchwoman Visser, Ackera Nugent, and Grace Stark, all cruised into the semi-finals of the event after qualifying from their respective heats.

With a season’s best of 12.24s, which she ran on June 20 at the Meeting de Paris in France, Amusan has the fourth fastest time this year and also ranked ninth in the world.

USA’s Russell has the fastest time this year with 12.17s, followed by her compatriot Stark with 12.19s.

Amusan, who has five national titles, is also a three-time Diamond League champion, winning consecutive editions in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

As things stand in Tokyo, the world record holder is Nigeria’s brightest chance of winning a medal is running in the 100m events as well as throwing events.

The country has won 11 medals in the history of the championships, and Amusan bagged the only gold medal in that collection with her record-breaking outing in Oregon 2022.