Amusan’s Very Slow Start Cost Her Fourth Diamond League Title

Tobi Amusan’s hopes of securing a record-equaling fourth Diamond League 100m hurdles title were hurt by a poor start as she finished fourth in the final in Brussels on Saturday.

Amusan was seventh at the first hurdle, reaching it in 2.48 seconds, the slowest opening split in the field.

By the second hurdle she remained seventh, but the Nigerian gradually began to claw her way back into contention as the race progressed. She moved up to sixth at Hurdle 3, fifth by Hurdle 6 and maintained fifth through Hurdle 9 before producing a late surge to cross the finish line fourth in 12.54 seconds.

Masai Russell of the United States won in a meeting record 12.20 seconds, with Devynne Charlton clocking a Bahamian national record of 12.33 for second and Jamaica’s Megan Simmonds taking third in 12.43.

For Amusan, the result was particularly frustrating because her closing speed showed that she had the ability to challenge for a podium place.

Her biggest problem, however, came at the start, where she immediately lost valuable ground to the leaders. Although she steadily recovered positions through the race, the deficit proved too large to completely erase.

Amusan’s 12.54 seconds was the same time as fifth-placed Nadine Visser of the Netherlands, but the Nigerian was awarded fourth on the photo finish.

The result means she leaves Brussels without the fourth Diamond League Trophy she was chasing, while Russell adds the prestigious title to her breakthrough season.