Nigerian sprinter Tobi Amusan has once again etched her name into the annals of athletics history by setting a new African women’s 60-metre hurdles indoor record at the Astana Indoor Meet in Kazakhstan. Amusan’s electrifying run clocked in at an impressive 7.77 seconds, breaking Gloria Alozie’s long-standing continental mark of 7.82 seconds set in 1999.
The 26-year-old athlete showcased her prowess in the 60m hurdles final, clinching victory ahead of American Nia Ali and Ireland’s Sarah Lavin. This remarkable performance marks Nigeria’s opening race of the 2023 athletic season and reinforces Amusan’s status as a force to be reckoned with on the track.
Amusan’s journey to this record has been marked by both challenges and triumphs. In the previous athletic season, she faced a rollercoaster of events, starting with a provisional suspension before the World Championships due to missed drug tests. However, she was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
Despite this setback, Amusan, the reigning World Athletics Championship gold medalist, faced tough competition in Budapest but managed to cap off the year on a high note by securing her third consecutive Diamond League trophy.
The new 60m hurdles indoor record not only cements Amusan’s place in athletics history but also signifies her ongoing role as a pacesetter for African female sprint hurdlers. In 2022, she made headlines by becoming the first Nigerian to clinch a World Athletics Championship gold. During that championship, she also shattered the women’s 100m hurdles world record on her way to victory, showcasing her dominance in the discipline.
Tobi Amusan’s consistent performance at the highest level highlights the potential for African athletes to compete and excel on the global stage. As she continues to break barriers and set new records, Amusan stands as an inspiration for aspiring athletes and a testament to the strength and talent within the African sporting community.
