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By Monica Iheakam And Rasaq Oboirien
Nigeria’s track sensation and world record-holder in the 100-meter hurdles, Tobi Amusan says she could break the Ostrava Golden Spike meet record today.
Amusan, who is among the stars to watch at the 62nd edition of the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting, will have it tough against Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico.
Amusan will battle for supremacy against Tokyo 2020 Olympic Champion, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico and Tia Jones of USA who have all been confirmed for the annual showpiece.
The attention will however be on Amusan and Camacho-Quinn who have taken their NCAA rivalry to the international stage.
The Puerto Rican ran 12.54 in 2016 to beat the Nigerian (12.79) to the NCAA 100m hurdles title in Eugene, Oregon while Amusan extracted her pound of flesh a year later also in Eugene, winning by the narrowest of margins (12.57 to 12.58).
Since then, the two have met 13 more times with Camacho-Quinn having a 9-6 head to head lead over the reigning world champion.
At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Camacho-Quinn sped home first in 12.37 while Amusan came in fourth in 12.60. The Nigerian however had the better of the Puerto Rican at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, running a wind-aided 12.06 to win the gold with the 26-year-old Puerto Rican third in 12.23.
Amusan (12.29) would triumph again at the Diamond League final in Zurich while Camacho-Quinn (12.49) placed fourth.
The Golden Spike record of 12.55 seconds was set by Sharika Nelvis in 2015, and the Nigerian who set a world record time of 12.12 seconds in the semifinals of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, looks set to break another record.
An excited Amusan, whose first race comes up today, before making her first Diamond League appearance this season, competing in Lausanne on Friday, said: “All I am focused to execute well, and whatever you see when I cross the finish line, I am fine with it if I put 100% there.”
On running sub 12 seconds: “I am a big believer – nothing is impossible. I think it is going to happen one day.”
Amusan is no fan of higher barriers in female hurdles, “Do not want it. We have many hurdles that are short… I am not bulky, I am short. Let´s stay with what we have.
She further shared moments of her World Record memories.
“I was just running for my life. This is the time to go for what we worked for in the practice. My coach told me on that day: “It is just huge today so go out there and do everything we practice.”
