Absent Amusan’s Zurich Diamond League meeting record under threat
Nigeria’s world record-holder Tobi Amusan lost her 12.34 meeting record at the Silesia Diamond League meeting penultimate weekend to Jamaican, Ackera Nugent who ran 12.30 to break it in the semifinals before improving on it with a commanding 12.29 run in the final.
On Thursday at the Weltklase Diamond League meeting at the Lezigrund stadium in Zurich, the Nigerian may lose another record without putting up a defense.
Amusan ran 12.29 in Zurich in 2022 to cap a sensational season by adding the Diamond Trophy to her then ever-expanding prize cabinet, beating a highly competitive field that included three of the athletes she defeated at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, in a thrilling 100m hurdles final.
The Nigerian took a tenth of a second off the mark that had been set by USA’s multiple Olympic and world gold medallist Gail Devers in 2000.
The 27 year old will not be in Zurich and has not competed in the post Paris 2024 Olympics circuit but reigning Olympic champion, Masai Russell who has dipped inside 12.30 once (12.25) this year will be there.
So also, is the dethroned queen of the high hurdles at the Games, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn as well as Cyrena Samba-Mayela, the bronze medalist in Paris.
Last year’s winner and two-time World champion, Danielle Williams will also be there as well as Kendra Harisson, the man Amusan dethroned as world record holder.
Nugent, the sensational Jamaican who ran a new 12.24 world lead to win at the Golden Gala last week in Rome will not be in Zurich and her absence may mean Amusan’s record will stay for another year, at least.
