Former Nigeria and African sprint hurdles record holder, Taiwo Aladefa believes Tobi Amusan is capable of running faster than her 12.12 seconds world record run at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA in July.
Aladefa, the 1995 African Games 100m hurdles champion says the 25 year old Amusan who made history as the first Nigerian track and field athlete to win a world outdoor title, set a world record, successfully defended a Commonwealth Games title as well as win a Diamond League trophy is in a class of her own and agrees with Colin Jackson that she can run faster than 12.12 seconds.
Jackson, a former Olympics and World 110m hurdles champion and former world record holder in the event told Sportsnow.com.ng in Birmingham during the Commonwealth Games that Amusan is capable of running 12.00 seconds in the high hurdles.
‘Tobi is in a class of her own and I agree with Colin Jackson that yep.. she’s capable of running 12 flat,’ said Aladefa who is the first African sprint hurdler to run inside 13 seconds when she ran 12.98 seconds to win the African Games title in Harare, Zimbabwe and improved her personal best to 12.87 seconds a few days later at a meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Aladefa believes Amusan will need to be a bit more explosive out of the block, running the inside of the hurdles flawlessly like she’s been doing recently and speed through the finishing once she lands on the last hurdles.
”She is a great sprinter already and working more on her starts and making sure she’s injury free is all it takes,’ said Aladefa.
Amusan has ensured Nigeria keeps producing world class high hurdlers who have always delivered for Nigeria and Aladefa is delighted the Ogun state born athlete has kept the fire on.
‘Our high hurdlers have always delivered for Nigeria right from the time of aunty Modupe Oshikoya to Judy Bell-Gam and Maria Usifo. I also remember the 1990s when me, Ime Akpan and Angela Atede gave Africa the three best high hurdlers of that era before Glory Alozie took over from us. Now, it is Tobi’s turn, a great gem we have in Nigeria.. I’m so super proud of her’.
