Nigeria’s world record holder in women’s 100 meters hurdles, Oluwatobilola Amusan, ran her second fastest time of the season when winning the Gyulai Istan Memorial meeting in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, on Tuesday.
Amusan won ahead of two Americans, Lay-Lay Johnson who was 2nd in a time of 12.41 Seconds, and Nia Ali who finished third in a time of 12.50 Seconds.
It was the second race in just 48 hours for the world and Commonwealth Champion, who won it in 12.35 Seconds (.01 Seconds slower than her winning time and Season’s Best of 12.34, recorded in Poland, on Sunday).
After a slow and worrisome start to the season which included placing 3rd in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday’s victory at the Székesfehérvár athletics field was the third in a row by the Ogun state-born athlete, and her timing in the last two races are surely confidence boosters, ahead of the defence of her title, at the upcoming World Athletics Championships.
Amusan aka the StarGirl of Team Nigeria, became a world record holder in women’s 100 meters hurdles while running a time of 12.12 Seconds in the Semifinals, in Eugene Oregon, USA. She won the final moments later, by finishing in a time of 12.06 Seconds, but that time did not stand because of the trailing wind.
Before Sunday’s race at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland, her previous best of 12.47 Seconds, was at the Ostrava Golden Spike Meeting in Ostrava the Czech Republic, in June, but despite retaining her title at the Nigeria National trials held in Benin City, Edo state, her time of 12.70 Seconds was an issue of serious concern for her, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and her fans alike.
With little over a month until the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, the Gyulai Istvan Memorial is the sixth and final Gold competition on the World Athletics Continental Tour of this season.
Meanwhile, Team Nigeria’s world silver medalist, Ese Brume put up a decent jumping series at the Gyulai István Memorial. The back-to-back Commonwealth Games Champion in the event, who is also having a bit of difficult start to the season, finished 2nd in women’s Long Jump with a mark of 6.69 metres. Serbia’s Milica Gardašević won the event with a leap of 6.80 meters.
