Tobi Amusan Breaks 25-Year African Indoor 60m Hurdles Record

Nigerian sprinter, Tobi Amusan has started the year on a winning streak by setting a new African 60m hurdles record.

Nigerian sprinter Tobi Amusan has set a new African record after winning the women’s 60m hurdles final in 7.77 seconds.

She also shattered Gloria Alozie’s record of 7.82 seconds set in 1999. The time is not only a new personal best for Amusan; it is also the new African record in the event.

The 26-year-old achieved this feat on Saturday at the Astana World Indoor Meet in Kazakhstan.

Amusan had clocked 7.91s to qualify for the final, where she took it a notch higher with the gold-winning 7.77s run ahead of Nia Ali of the United States and Ireland’s Sarah Lawin, who finished second and third, respectively.

She has broken two of Alozie’s records (Africa Championship and African Games) and will aim to become the second Nigerian high hurdler after Alozie to make the podium at the World Indoor Championships in March.

The victory marks the beginning of a new era and a good comeback for the world champion who was plagued by controversies in 2023.

It will be recalled Tobi was provisionally suspended for missing three drug tests within 12 months, which was later lifted a few days before the World Athletics Championship held in Budapest, Hungary, last year.

She, however, emerged from the controversy to win her third consecutive Diamond League trophy in Eugene, Oregon, US. while setting a world record with a time of 12.12secs in the semi-final. She went on to win gold in the final with a time of 12.06secs