Tobi Amusan is through to the women’s 100m hurdles final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
The Nigerian star finished second in her semifinal in 12.49 seconds, behind Bahamas hurdler Devynne Charlton. Charlton won the race in 12.45 seconds.
That result sends Amusan into Friday night’s final and keeps Nigeria firmly involved in one of the opening night’s headline events.
World Athletics’ competition format leaves little room for recovery. Athletes in the sprint hurdles enter at semifinal level, with only the top four from each race advancing to the final.
For Amusan, reaching the final keeps the bigger objective alive.
The former world champion arrived in Budapest among the leading names in the women’s 100m hurdles field. She is carrying one of Nigeria’s strongest individual-event hopes into the inaugural championship.
The Ultimate Championship has been built around immediate pressure rather than long qualifying rounds, with the women’s 100m hurdles semifinal and final both taking place on the same night.
That makes the semifinal only half the job.
Amusan has negotiated the first elimination point.
Now she moves into a final where there is no safety net and no second chance.
For Nigeria, one race remains between Amusan and the chance to leave Budapest with one of the country’s strongest results of the championship.
The semifinal is done.
The pressure now moves to the final.
