Amusan takes silver as Russell wins 100m hurdles title in Budapest

Tobi Amusan finished second in the women’s 100m hurdles at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, on Friday, taking home the silver medal.

Amusan stopped the clock at 12.34 seconds, while American Olympic champion Masai Russell won gold in 12.22 seconds. Dutch hurdler Nadine Visser secured bronze with a time of 12.39 seconds.

The outcome denied Amusan, a former world record holder in the event, a return to the top spot after Russell recently surpassed her global mark.

Russell had broken Amusan’s world record with a 12.09-second run at the Zurich Diamond League in August and entered Friday’s final as the leading contender.

She lived up to expectations by securing another victory and extending her unbeaten streak in 2026. The American’s latest triumph came after she won the Diamond League Final crown in Brussels last week.

For Amusan, the silver medal capped a challenging period in a season that had initially promised much.

Reflecting on her campaign after the race, the Nigerian said she was determined to make the most of her opportunity in Budapest.

“First, God is good,” Amusan said.

“What started off as an amazing season, you know, in between I had some nipping here and there. You know, I’m not a robot. You know, the body did shut down at a point.”

The 29-year-old said she regained her confidence gradually by concentrating on one race at a time before entering the Budapest competition with a clear determination to fight for the best possible result.

“Coming into this championship, my mindset going to the line was, ‘We die here.’ I just kept telling myself I have to give it my all,” she said.

Amusan said she was satisfied with her performance after giving everything she had in the final.

“All I knew was, look, I did it. That’s all I knew. And the second I saw the second-place finish, I was like, look, I can’t complain. God is good,” she said.

Her latest result followed a difficult stretch that included a third-place finish at the Commonwealth Games and Russell’s subsequent world-record performance. Amusan then finished fourth at the Diamond League Final.

She acknowledged that the setbacks had taken an emotional toll but said the encouragement of her family, mentor, coach and boyfriend played a major role in helping her recover.

“I’m not going to lie. It was very rough,” Amusan said.

“I mean, to my family, to my mentor, to my coach, to my boyfriend. That’s brought life back into me.”

She explained that their support helped her put the disappointments aside and concentrate on delivering a strong performance in Budapest.

“This morning it was all about put the past behind you and just go for it. And those few sentences that I got here and there got me to this finish line today,” she said.

Amusan also viewed her Commonwealth Games bronze and Budapest silver as evidence of her ability to respond positively to adversity.

“With the Commonwealth medal, it is a statement,” she said.

The Nigerian further acknowledged the growing strength of the women’s 100m hurdles field, describing the event as increasingly unpredictable and competitive.

“Honestly, in that event, I think I would be the sleeping lion,” she said.

“I think the women’s hurdles is just getting scarier every damn year. Next year, I do not know what’s going to happen. But it’s going to be bloody.”

Africans Angle News