Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan eased into the women’s 100m hurdles semifinals at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The world record holder clocked 12.53 seconds to win heat six, finishing ahead of the Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton (12.69) and Italy’s Elena Carraro (12.86).
Amusan, who gestured for calm after crossing the line, looked untroubled as she advanced to the next round.
Tobi Amusan looked very relaxed. Photo Credit: Making of Champions
She will face stern opposition in tomorrow’s semifinals, including Dutch star Nadine Visser, who ran 12.48, and America’s Alaysha Johnson. The top two from each heat, plus the two fastest losers, progress to the final.
In the men’s 100m, Nigeria’s Israel Sunday Okon caused a stir by winning his heat in 10.04 (-0.6), beating Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy and Britain’s Zharnel Hughes.
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Compatriot Kanyinsola Ajayi also impressed, lowering his personal best to 9.88. That makes him the third-fastest Nigerian sprinter of all time and ties him for most sub-10 second runs in a single season by a Nigerian athlete.
Israel Okon in jubilant mood after crossing the finish line. Photo Credit: Making of Champions
Ajayi finished second in his heat behind South Africa’s Gift Leotlela, who clocked 9.87, with Jamaica’s Oblique Seville third in 9.93.
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Both Ajayi and Okon will line up in the semifinals on their World Championships debut.
