Amusan starts season strongly as focus shifts to Prefontaine Classic
Nigeria’s sprint sensation Tobi Amusan began her 2026 outdoor season on a positive note, finishing second in the women’s 200m at the Velocity Fest in Jamaica. The reigning world record
- By Tunde Liadi
Nigeria’s sprint sensation Tobi Amusan began her 2026 outdoor season on a positive note, finishing second in the women’s 200m at the Velocity Fest in Jamaica.
The reigning world record holder in the 100m hurdles clocked a season’s best of 23.25 seconds, finishing behind Jamaican sprint legend Elaine Thompson-Herah, who won the race in 22.61 seconds. Another Jamaican, Ackera Nugent, placed third in 23.35 seconds.
Although the 200m is not her primary event, Amusan’s performance highlighted her speed and conditioning as she prepares for a demanding season on the global stage. The 28-year-old continues to use flat sprints to sharpen her explosiveness ahead of her main hurdles events.
Her return to Velocity Fest follows a similar pattern from 2025, where she impressed in sprint races, underlining her versatility across disciplines.
Focus now shifts to the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, where she is expected to feature in one of her first major hurdles races of the year.
Eugene remains a special venue for Amusan. At the World Athletics Championships held at Hayward Field, she set the still-standing world record of 12.12 seconds before claiming gold becoming the first Nigerian and African woman to win the 100m hurdles title.
She returned in 2023 to win the Diamond League final at the same venue, further cementing her dominance. A silver medal finish at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo reaffirmed her elite status.
