Tobi Amusan, the world-record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, opened her 2026 season with a strong showing at Jamaica’s Velocity Fest, finishing second in the 200m.
Stepping out of her usual hurdles event, Amusan showcased her sprinting ability by recording a season-best of 23.25 seconds. She was narrowly beaten by Jamaican sprint superstar Elaine Thompson-Herah, who claimed first place in 22.61 seconds. Fellow Jamaican Ackera Nugent rounded out the top three, crossing the finish line in 23.35 seconds.
The performance signals a promising start to the year for Amusan, who is steadily preparing for key international competitions. This was her first race since the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, where she earned Nigeria’s sole medal with a silver in the hurdles.
Among her upcoming appearances is the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on July 4, where she will return to her specialty, the 100m hurdles. The event, part of the Diamond League, will take place at Hayward Field and is expected to attract one of the most competitive fields of the season.
Amusan, who holds the world record at 12.12 seconds, is set to face elite athletes including Olympic champion Masai Russell, two-time world champion Danielle Williams, and World Championships bronze medallist Grace Stark.
The 28-year-old has a history of success at Eugene, having claimed her first world title there and set the current 100m hurdles world record during the 2022 World Championships. She also returned in 2023 to win the Diamond League final. Over the past decade, Amusan has dominated her discipline, capturing the Diamond League final title three consecutive times from 2021 to 2023.
