Nigeria’s sprint hurdler, Tobi Amusan, kicked off her 2026 season with an encouraging run, finishing second in the women’s 200 metres at the Velocity Fest in Jamaica.
Better known for her dominance in the 100m hurdles, Amusan stepped outside her usual event and still delivered, clocking a season’s best of 23.25 seconds to place second.
Jamaica’s Olympic champion, Elaine Thompson-Herah, took the win in 22.61 seconds, while rising star Ackera Nugent followed in third with 23.35 seconds in a tightly contested race.
The outing offered a solid early marker for Amusan as she builds toward a busy international calendar.
It was also her first competitive appearance since the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where she claimed Nigeria’s only medal with a silver finish.
Attention will now shift to the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on July 4, where Amusan returns to her signature 100m hurdles. The Diamond League meet at Hayward Field is expected to feature a stacked lineup.
She will go up against top rivals, including Olympic champion Masai Russell, Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, and American hurdler Grace Stark.
Amusan has fond memories of Eugene. It was there she stunned the world in 2022, winning her first world title and setting the current world record of 12.12 seconds.
She returned the following year to claim the Diamond League final at the same venue.
Now 28, the Nigerian star remains a dominant force in the event, having won three straight Diamond League titles from 2021 to 2023, and will be aiming to build momentum again as the season unfolds.
The post Amusan Opens 2026 Season with Strong 200m Run in Jamaica first appeared on Africa Top Sports.
