Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, the women’s 100m hurdles world record holder, has slipped to third place in the latest global athletics rankings despite improving her points tally with strong performances at two Diamond League meetings in China, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Amusan raised her ranking points from 1,379 to 1,385 after clocking 12.41 seconds at the Shanghai Diamond League and a season’s best 12.28 seconds at the Xiamen meeting, where she finished second behind American Masai Russell.
Russell’s back-to-back victories at both meetings, however, were enough to propel the Olympic champion to the top of the world rankings. The 26-year-old posted times of 12.25 seconds in Shanghai and a stunning 12.14 seconds in Xiamen — a new United States record that missed Amusan’s world record of 12.12 seconds by just two hundredths. Her points tally rose to 1,391, with American compatriot Grace Stark occupying second place on 1,386 points.
Russell, who sat in fourth place just over a week ago, has emerged as the most significant threat to Amusan’s standing both in the rankings and on the track this season.
Speaking after her Xiamen run, the American made no secret of her ambitions.
“I’m ecstatic, and all the hard work is truly showing,” Russell told the Diamond League.
“I’ve been saying all year that I’m going to break the world record. I don’t know when it’s going to come, but I keep getting closer and closer.”
Russell also credited her consistency and self-belief for her rise. “I’m so focused. I’m so consistent this year. I feel like I’m just growing and learning every single time,” she said.
Amusan set the current world record of 12.12 seconds at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, United States, becoming the first Nigerian world champion in athletics.
Despite her drop to third, Amusan remains among the leading contenders in the event as the 2026 season builds towards championship season.
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