…set for national trials in Benin
World record holder, Tobi Amusan, stormed to her first Diamond League win this season in Stockholm on Sunday.
In what was her second Diamond League race of the season, she clocked 12:52s to win the race on the slippery track.
Before her first win of the season on Sunday, the hurdler has improved steadily in the current athletics season, lowering her time significantly in the space of three weeks.
The Nigerian ran a season’s best of 12.47s and placed third behind Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and America’s Tia Jones at the Ostrava Golden Spike Meet last week.
She then followed it up with another impressive race to finish second behind Camacho-Quinn at the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday, with same time of 12.47s. Amusan was again outrun by Camacho-Quinn, who ran 12.40s for victory, while Tia Jones finished third in 12.51s.
The world champion is confident of improving her form ahead of this year’s national trials in Benin City to select Nigeria’s representatives to the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August.
Three weeks ago, she posted a time of 12.57s to win at the Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica and had since bettered that time.
Amusan will be joined by long jumper, Ese Brume; sprinter Favour Ofili, 400m hurdler Nathaniel Ezekiel and javelin thrower, Nnamdi Prosper, who are part of the athletes that will compete in Benin City.
Also expected are shot put thrower, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi; triple jumper Ruth Usoro, Chioma Onyekwere, Godson Brume, Udodi Onwuzurike, home boy Samuel Ogazi and Patience Okon-George, among others.
With about a month to another World Championships in Budapest, Amusan will keep striving to lower her time as she embarks on her title defence.
“As the days go by, I receive more assurance from the Lord about what He has declared over my life. Grateful for another race (season’s best of 12.47s). Thank you, Lausanne,” Amusan stated in a Facebook post.
Few hours later, she shared the video of the Diamond League race and captioned it, “Bit-by-bit.”
Chairman, organising committee of the national trials, Yusuf Alli, said Edo State was ready to stage the best championships ever.
“I’m sure the athletes will be excited to be here a second time because last year, they got the best treatment and hospitality from the people,” Alli said.
Last year, the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was also the venue for the national trials, where athletes for both the World Championships in Oregon, United States and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, were selected.
The 2023 World Athletics Championships begin Saturday August 19 and end Sunday August 27.
