Sprint hurdler Tobiloba Amusan will get the chance to move to the top of the qualification standing when the Diamond League makes its seventh of scheduled 14 stops on Saturday in Paris, France.
The 25 year old reigning African champion is currently ranked joint second in the 100m hurdles standing with seven points behind event’s record holder (12.20) Kendra Harrison of the United States of America.
The American triumphed (12.42) early May at the opening leg of the meetings in Doha last month and garnered the available eight points on offer while Amusan and Jamaica’s Britany Anderson both ran 12.44 seconds to place second and were awarded seven points each.
Athletes earn points at the first 13 meetings with the first eight ranked qualifying for the final in Zurich, Switzerland.
Amusan is the defending 100m hurdles champion following her historic win in Zurich last year and gets the opportunity to move clear at the top of the ranking for the event.
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With Harrison not listed for the event and the Nigerian the fastest among the line up at 12.57s for the race in Paris, a win looks like a cast iron certainty which will take the petite African record holder (12.42) to 15 points.
Bahamas’ Charlton Devynne and Kambundji Dijati of Switzerland are two of the top athletes also confirmed for the race.
Others include Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska, who has run 12.62 this year, Britain’s Cindy Sember, who has gone one hundredth of a second slower, and Nadine Visser of the Netherlands, double European indoor champion, who has recorded a 2022 best of 12.72.
A victory for the Nigerian will boost her chances of not only retaining her Nigeria 100m hurdles title but also the confidence to attack Angela Atiede’s 12.63 championship record set in 1997.
Last year, a slight tail wind rendered Amusan’s 12.54s effort in the semifinal illegal.
