‘This is showing that I am in really good shape’: Nugent ready to race for gold in Tokyo

Ackera Nugent sped to a 12.30 season’s best to become the 10th woman to win the 100m hurdles title in the Diamond League era and declared she is in form just in time for the 20th World Athletics Championships next month on Tokyo, Japan.

Nugent came from behind to beat American, Grace Stark who was ahead from the first hurdle following her explosive start from the blocks.

The Jamaican, who could not finish in the final of the event at last year’s Olympics has now won her first major, global title and would be a major candidate for the gold medal in Tokyo where she will be hoping the title remains in Jamaica but away from the grip of defending champion, Danielle Williams, another Jamaican.

Nugent, who is the second Jamaican to win the Diamond League title in the event, has now succeeded Puerto Rican, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn who won in 2024.

‘This is showing that I am in really good shape, my strength is there and some consistency is there too. As we get closer to the World Championships some adjustments need to be made. With me at every race I try to focus on myself rather than controlling the race itself, hoping that I can put up the best performance I can.

‘When I run, I just ask the Lord to help in fulfilling my dreams, and lock everything out. All I can and want to hear is the sound of the start gun, nothing else. I am not really sure yet about the plan next, so I will just listen to my coach and I take each race on and be as consistent as possible,’ she told the Diamond League website after the race.