Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan has won silver in the women’s 100 metres hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Monday, finishing behind Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who stunned the field to take gold in a national record.
Kambundji, 23, stormed to victory in 12.24s, eclipsing her previous best to secure Switzerland’s first-ever world title in the event.
Amusan, the 2022 champion and world record holder, followed closely in 12.29s to earn Nigeria’s 12th medal in World Championships history.
The bronze went to American Grace Stark, who crossed in 12.34s, while her compatriot Masai Russell placed fourth in 12.44s after a sluggish reaction time of 0.240, the slowest in the field.
Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska equalled her season’s best with 12.49s for fifth, just edging Bahamian Devynne Charlton who clocked the same time. Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, the 2023 world champion, finished seventh in 12.53s, and Nadine Visser of the Netherlands completed the line-up in eighth with 12.56s.
Amusan had earlier looked in commanding form in the semi-final, winning her race in 12.36s ahead of Visser and Skrzyszowska to set up hopes of retaining her crown. But in the final, despite a strong start, she was unable to match Kambundji’s late surge.
The result means Amusan, 28, adds another silver medal to Nigeria’s tally at the World Championships, following her historic gold in Eugene in 2022 when she set the world record of 12.12s.
