Amusan seeks strong closing statement at Diamond League

The 100m hurdles Wanda Diamond League final in Eugene, USA offers Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan a great opportunity to make a strong closing statement and sign off for the season in style following a rather traumatic year.

Amusan was dethroned as the women’s 100m hurdles world champion by Jamaica’s Danielle Williams after placing sixth in the final at the 19th World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August.

That came after she was temporarily suspended in July by the Athletics Integrity Unit for missing three whereabouts tests and was only cleared to compete two days before the World Championships in Budapest.

Just over a year after winning the world title in the women’s 100m hurdles, in Eugene, USA with a time of 12.12secs, Amusan will be running on the same track in Hayward Field again in search of her third Diamond League trophy, having won it in 2021 and 2022.

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The 2021 title came off the back of a disappointing end at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, while she capped an incredible 2022 with the last title in Zurich.

But aiming to become the second woman after Dawn Nelson-Harper to win three straight Diamond League trophies won’t come easy for Amusan as she will be competing against new world champion Danielle Williams, Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and former world record holder Kendra Harrison.

Other billed to compete in the final are Alaysha Johnson, Tia Jones, Pia Skrzyszowska of Poland and Jamaica’s Megan Tapper as well as Nia Ali who led the meetings with 25 points after 13 races.

For head coach of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Seigha Porbeni, the Diamond league final is a perfect avenue for Amusan to regain her pride in the 100m hurdles.

“Yes, Oregon is Amusan’s chance for he to put things right again,” he said.

“I believe she must have had full mental and physical recovery.

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“Again, another advantage is that she has only one race to run because the Diamond league in Oregon is a straight final. Being a tough athlete and a fighter, I strongly believe it is going to be Amusan’s day, victory, and sweet revenge.”

Another Nigeria athlete, Ese Brume, is among the finalists for the Long Jump top prize at the Diamond League this weekend. Brume narrowly missed out in the medal zone in Budapest, finishing fourth.

She is back at the same Oregon, where she picked a silver medal last year during the 18th World Championships. Though, Brume has not been so fantastic this season, many believe anything can happen in the Diamond League final.

This year, the Diamond League prize money for an individual winner is $30,000, followed by $12,000 for the runner-up, with additional places receiving $7,000, $4,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, and $1,000.