Amusan returns to Rabat to win again, surprised to run 12.45, says: ‘I can feel the difference in my speed’

World 100m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan says she is thrilled to run a new personal season’s best at the Rabat Diamond League meeting on Sunday.

The Nigerian ran 12.45 to set a new meeting record and it was her fastest over the distance since May 11, 2024 when she ran 12.40 in Kingston, Jamaica.

Amusan opened her Diamond League campaign in Xiamen, China last month and ran 12.74 to place fourth. She improved to 12.66 seven days later at the Diamond League meeting in Keqioa, still in China and also placed fourth.

The 28 year old ran a wind-assisted 12.53 at the Atlanta City Games last week before storming to a 12.45 best this season.

The reigning African Games and Commonwealth Games champion was surprised she could run this fast but revealed she went back to serious training after the Diamond League meetings in China.

‘I was surprised (with the 12.45 run), the beginning of the season was a little bit rough for me. But I just kept the head down and trusted the process. I just wanted to execute a clean race, so I am happy with the victory.

‘I don´t know what I did but it went well. Since the Chinese Wanda Diamond Leagues I put a lot of practice in, especially sprinting. Two weeks in I can feel the difference in my speed,’ she said after the race.

Amusan is also thrilled to return to Rabat to win again after running a new 12.68 Games record to win her second of three African Games 100m hurdles title six years ago.

‘I was here in 2019 for the African Games and I won, so it was like coming home, I was really excited,’ she revealed.

Meanwhile, Shot Putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi failed to make it a triumphant return to Rabat.

The reigning African Games Shot Put king won his first of two African Games title in Rabat six years ago but could only place seventh in the event with his 21.38m fourth round effort in his 2025 Diamond League debut.