Amusan draws Charlton, Stark and Skrzyszowska, set to qualify for second Olympics 100m hurdles final
Tobi Amusan looks set to qualify for her second straight Olympics 100m hurdles final after the Nigerian was drawn in the first of three semifinal heats where the top two in each heat automatically go through with two others who emerge as fastest losers from any two or one of the three heats.
The 27-year-old Nigerian who holds the world record in the event at 12.12 will race against Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton, the reigning World indoor 60m hurdles champion who also holds the world record in the event and Grace Stark, one of the three Americans in the semifinals who defeated the Nigerian at the Holloway Pro Classic last month and holds a 1-0 head-to-head record against the Nigerian.
Stark holds a 12.31 lifetime best which she achieved at the USA Trials in June to seal her place in the USA team to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Also drawn to run for one of the two automatic tickets in the first semifinal is reigning World champion, Danielle Williams of Jamaica who holds a 12.46 personal season’s best and a 19-16 head to record against the Nigerian.
Polish athlete, Pia Skrzszowska, who came into the picture as one of the athletes to watch at the Games after running a 12.37 lifetime best last month in Switzerland but has never won against Amusan in eight head-to-head clashes will also be contesting one of the tickets with the Nigerian.
Amusan will run from lane six and she is sandwiched between Williams in five and Charlton in seven while Stark will run from lane four and Skrzyszowska from lane eight.
