World Athletics Championships: Amusan set for another historic run

All eyes will be on sprint hurdler Tobiloba Amusan when she files out for the semifinal of the 100m hurdles early Monday morning.

The 25 year old set a new 12.40 seconds African record in the first round of the event and will now be seeking to become the first Nigerian nay African woman

to run a 12.40 seconds in the 100m hurdles.

The Nigerian will run in the first semifinal heat from lane four and will have reigning World record holder in the event at 12.20 seconds, Kendra Harrison of

the USA who tops the world lead this year with 12.34 seconds to contend with as she bid to run in her second straight final in the event.

While Harrison will run from lane six, Jamaican lady, Danielle Williams will run from lane three.

Williams, the bronze medal winner from Doha, Qatar three years ago will be hoping to outpace Amusan, her conqueror in the first round.

Also drawn to race against the petite Nigerian is Cindy Sember of Great Britain who’s the fourth fastest in the line up of eight athletes who have all gone

under 13 seconds this year.

The first two in this first of three semifinal heats will get automatic tickets to the final which will be run exactly one hour, 50 minutes later.

A run inside 12.40 seconds will certainly not only secure a place in the final for the reigning Diamond League, Commonwealth Games, African Games, African

Championships and Nigerian championships champion but also make her the 19th woman in the world to run a sub 12.40 seconds in the event.

The Nigerian came fourth three years ago in Doha at the 17th edition of the championships, a position she claimed again last year at the Tokyo Olympics.

Amusan will feel she is in the best shape ever to become the second Nigerian nay African woman to win a medal in the 100m hurdles at the championships after

Glory Alozie who ran 12.44 seconds to win a silver medal at the seventh edition of the competition in Seville, Spain in 1999.