August 24, (THEWILL) – Oluwatobiloba Amusan of Nigeria has qualified for the final of the women’s 100-metre hurdles at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Amusan won her semi-final heat with a time of 12.56 seconds despite a slow start out of the blocks. It was the second semi-final of the event and Amusan overtook early leader Ackera Nugent of Jamaica down the final stretch to secure the win. Nugent finished second in 12.60 seconds, also qualifying automatically for the final.
Amusan is the defending world champion in the event, having won gold in 2022 in Oregon with a world record time of 12.12 seconds. Although her build-up to Budapest has posed some challenges, especially around allegations against her from the Athletics Integrity Unit, the 25-year-old remains focused on defending her title.
The other top contenders also advanced to the final on Wednesday. Former world record holder, Kendra Harrison of the US, won the first semi in 12.33 seconds. Olympic champion, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, took the third semi in 12.41, followed by Nia Ali in 12.49.
While her rivals have posted faster times so far, Amusan maintains she feels no pressure and is prepared to approach each race as it comes. The final takes place on Thursday night.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
