Amusan shakes Eugene with a world record in 100 hurdles

The Nigerian stopped the clock in 12.12 in the semifinals, eight hundredths below Kendra Harrison’s record

The dispossessed Harrison passed with an excellent 12.27 and the Olympic champion Camacho-Quinn shone with 12.37

When all eyes were on Swedish prodigy Armand Duplantis and a possible attack on his umpteenth world record, Tobi Amusan has emerged like a hurricane to set the second World Cup universal record of Eugene in the semifinals of 100 meters hurdles after that achieved by the American Sydney McLaughlin in the final of 400 meters hurdles with 50.68.

After breaking the African record in the heats with a magnificent 12.40 (best time of all those qualified for the semifinals and a personal best by one hundredth), the fourth-placed team at the last Tokyo Games has starred the best race in history with an amazing 12.12.

In this way, Oluwatobiloba Ayomide ‘Tobi’ Amusan dispossessed the world record to the American Kendra Harrisonwho was second precisely in this semifinal with a remarkable 12.27 that promises battle in the grand final.

With only 156 centimeters tall and saving the distances being a hurdler, her style with very fast strides is reminiscent of Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, called the ‘Pocket Rocket’ and four centimeters shorter than her (1.52 m).

Amusan thus becomes the first African to hold the universal record in the 100 meter hurdles and in the final at 4:00 a.m. (Spanish peninsular time). will fight to become the second athlete from this continent to reach the podium in a World Cup after the great Glory Aloziewhich was silver in Seville 1999 before acquiring Spanish nationality.

Four-time champion of Africa and gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2018, Amusan will try to break the curse of a fourth place that in addition to the Tokyo Games it also occupied in the past World Cups in Doha.

Despite his colossal record, he will not have it easy in the most expensive final in history. In addition to Harrison and his 12.27 referrals, will have in front of Puerto Rican Olympic champion Jasmime Camacho-Quinn (12.32)the Jamaicans Britany Anderson (12.31, new national record) and Danielle Williams (12.41) and the American Alia Armstrong (12.43).

The big question is: Will Tobi Amusan manage the overexcitement of the record? In fact, the first thing he has done is take the traditional photo next to the marker that reflected his 12.12 and go immediately to pass the anti-doping control necessary for the homologation of the record while his rivals were already guarding weapons for the great battle of the final. That is, he will start with a certain disadvantage in both directions.