World record holder Tobi Amusan on Thursday admitted she was anxious as she got on the track for the 100m women’s hurdles at the Diamond League final in Zurich, Switzerland.
Prior to Thursday, Amusan had been struggling to get back to her best since her record-breaking performances at the World Athletics Championship held in Oregon, United States in July and the Commonwealth Games held last month in Birmingham, UK.
The 25-year-old clocked 12.29 seconds in Zurich to break a 22-year-old meeting record set by Gail Devers.
The Nigerian left her Puerto Rican rival and Olympics champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn in fourth position on 12.49 seconds.
American Tia Jones came second clocking 12.40 seconds while Jamaican Britany Anderson came third with a run of 12.42 seconds.
Camacho-Quinn had got the better of Amusan in the same event at the Lausanne Diamond League meet on August 26.
Amusan spoke with the press after the race in Zurich. She said, “I was scared to the teeth getting on that line, but you know, I just had to keep my cool. I’m just thankful to have come out here and got the win.”
Amusan noted that there was no pressure of any sort and that all she wanted was to prove to herself that she still has a fighter in her.
“It was more of proving to myself that I broke the world record and I can do it over and over again,” she said.
“It’s not just a one-time thing, even though after the world champs it took a toll on me to get back into my rhythm. But with enough rest I was able to bounce back. I’m thankful.”
Asked to summarise 2022 for her career, Amusan said, “God is faithful”.
