Marione Fourie fighting to break Nigeria’s 100m hurdles dominance in Africa after beating Amusan again in China

For the second Diamond League meeting in a row, a South African, Marione Fourie has sped past World record holder, Tobi Amusan in the 100m hurdles!

The 23-year-old who won a silver medal at the African Athletics Championships in Cameroon last year has become the first African athlete to beat the Nigerian in a major one-day meeting or Championships in over a decade.

Fourie has faced Amusan five times in head-to-head clashes with the Nigerian having a 3-0 lead coming to this year. Now, after two races, the South African is just one win from making it 3-3 in their head-to-head meetings.

While Amusan (12.12) and Glory Alozie (12.44) in the African all-time list, Fourie has moved up to third followinh her 12.49 run at the Fanny Blankers-Koen, FBK, Games in Hengelo, Netherlands last July.

This year, she tops the African top list with the 12.62 she has ran twice in one week while Amusan is second after speeding to a 12.66 personal season’s best to place fourth behind the South African who was third in Keqaio/Shanghai on Saturday.

After the race, Fourie warned she can still go faster than the 12.62 she has ran this year.

‘I am very happy, the time was very constant from last week. I think I can go much faster by the time I get to Tokyo. The start today was much better than last week (when she also finished third in Xiamen), I am happy about the race. I have managed to hold it together well since my coach passed away five weeks ago because I have managed to switch my mindset, I don’t like people to doubt me and am I just running for him (Juan Strydom),’ she said after the race won by Paris 2024 Olympics finalist, Grace Stark in 12.42 with Jamaica’s two-time World champion, Danielle Williams second in 12.55.
Fourie is definitely out to break the Nigeria’s stranglehold on the high hurdles in Africa.