Tobi Amusan: Prefontaine Record Setting Next Target

After setting a new meet record in the women’s 100m hurdles at the New Taipei Athletics Open in Taiwan three weeks ago, world record holder, Tobi Amusan on Sunday continued her impressive run of form by leading the pack at the Paris Diamond League  with a season-equalling time of 12.27 seconds. The queen of the track is however not done yet as she shifts her focus to the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2026 Prefontaine Classic scheduled for today at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA, as part of the Wanda Diamond League circuit. The race is highly anticipated, bringing together an elite international field, including Masai Russell and Devynne Charlton

Barely three weeks after setting a new meet record in the women’s 100m hurdles at the New Taipei Athletics Open in Taiwan,

Nigeria’s world record holder, Tobi Amusan continued her impressive run of form by claiming victory in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Paris Diamond League on Sunday with a season-equalling time of 12.27 seconds.

The performance marked the third time this year the world record holder has clocked 12.27 seconds, underlining her consistency on the Diamond League circuit.

Competing at Stade Charléty, Amusan crossed the finish line comfortably ahead of the field. American Grace Stark finished second in 12.38 seconds, while compatriot, Alaysha Johnson placed third in 12.39 seconds.

The Nigerian had previously recorded the same winning time at the Xiamen and Rabat Diamond League meetings earlier this season, making Sunday’s triumph another statement performance ahead of the business end of the campaign.

The Paris meet was staged under a revised schedule after a severe heatwave across France forced organisers to cancel all lower-tier youth and regional club events over the weekend.

Despite track temperatures reaching 32 degrees Celsius, Amusan produced another commanding display.

She exploded out of the blocks, cleared each hurdle cleanly and opened up a decisive advantage midway through the race before cruising to victory.

The win strengthens the 29-year-old’s credentials as one of the favourites heading into the Diamond League Final, with her remarkable consistency placing her among the world’s top sprint hurdlers this season.

Speaking after Sunday’s victory,  Amusan says she is not under pressure to maintain her top form this season.

The victory was her second on the Diamond League circuit this season, following her triumph in Rabat. She had earlier won the New Taipei City Athletics Open this month and also claimed gold at the African Championships in Botswana.

Challenging for another Diamond League title after winning three consecutive crowns between 2021 and 2023, and having recorded the second-fastest time in the world this season behind Masai Russell’s 12.14s,  the Remo-born hurdler insisted she was not feeling any pressure to finish the campaign strongly.

“I do not like the warm weather at all, but whatever the weather, I was going to come out here and kill it. My execution was alright. I am just happy to be injury free,” she told the Diamond League website.

“The pressure does not get to me. I have grace, a very strong support system around me, and that finish line. So I am never worried about pressure on the night.

“My approach to the hurdles varies. Sometimes you are thinking about what has just happened. Other days, it is really sloppy and I still come out and run a fast time. I try to take a shot at every race.”

Meanwhile, Amusan is shifting her focus to today’s Prefontaine Classic after expressing satisfaction with her latest performance on the Diamond League circuit.

Looking ahead, the Nigerian star confirmed that her immediate focus is the prestigious Prefontaine Classic, although she is yet to decide on the events that will follow.

“I’ll be competing at the Prefontaine Classic next, but I am yet to decide where to race after that,” she concluded.

Three weeks ago, Amusan broke another record with dominant win in Taiwan.

The Nigerian added another milestone to her illustrious career by setting a new meet record in the women’s 100m hurdles at the New Taipei Athletics Open in Taiwan after cruising to victory in 12.72 seconds despite running into a slight headwind of -0.3m/s, finishing comfortably ahead of the rest of the field.

The Taiwan’s achievement came barely weeks after Amusan secured her first Diamond League victory of the 2026 season in Rabat, Morocco.⁶

At the Rabat Diamond League, the 29-year-old stormed to victory in 12.28 seconds, equalling her season’s best and breaking her own meeting record of 12.45 seconds set at the same venue in 2025.

That performance marked a significant turning point in her campaign after opening the Diamond League season with podium finishes in China. Amusan had placed third in Shanghai with a time of 12.41 seconds before improving to 12.28 seconds for a runner-up finish in Xiamen, where she lost only to American hurdling star Masai Russell.

Her 12.28-second run remains one of the fastest times recorded globally this year and ranks among the best performances of her distinguished career.

The former world champion has steadily built momentum throughout the season. Before beginning her Diamond League campaign, she claimed gold in the women’s 100m hurdles at the African Championships in Accra, helping Nigeria secure its first gold medal of the competition.

Since bursting onto the global stage with her historic world title and world record of 12.12 seconds at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Amusan has remained one of the most consistent performers in women’s hurdling.