Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, commenced her 2025 outdoor season at the Diamond League opener in Xiamen, China, finishing fourth with a time of 12.74 seconds. This marked her first hurdles race since the Paris 2024 Olympics. The race was won by the reigning world champion, Danielle Williams, who clocked an impressive 12.53 seconds, followed by Grace Stark of the USA (12.58s) and South Africa’s Marione Fourie (12.62s). Williams’ victory was particularly dramatic, as she staged a late surge to overtake Stark just before the finish line. Meanwhile, Devynne Charlton, the World Indoor Champion from the Bahamas, unfortunately clipped a hurdle early in the race, resulting in a DNF (Did Not Finish).
Amusan’s performance in Xiamen serves as a starting point for her 2025 season. While the fourth-place finish might not reflect her usual dominance, it provides a benchmark for her upcoming competitions. She is slated to participate in the World Relays in Guangzhou, China next month as part of the Nigerian women’s 4x100m relay team. This suggests she may remain in China until the next Diamond League event, the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala, scheduled for May 3rd at the China Textile City Sports Centre. This extended stay in China allows for continued training and acclimatization, potentially benefiting her performance in the upcoming relay and Diamond League event.
Prior to the Xiamen Diamond League, Amusan had returned to the track last month, competing in the 100m dash at the Velocity Fest 16 in Kingston, Jamaica. There, she posted a season’s best of 11.28 seconds, securing a victory and showcasing her speed and form ahead of the hurdles season. This win provided a positive momentum boost as she transitioned back into hurdles competition. Furthermore, during the off-season, Amusan trained with Glen Mills, the renowned coach of Usain Bolt, signaling her commitment to improvement and a strong comeback after a relatively disappointing end to the previous season.
Amusan’s training with Glen Mills suggests a focused effort on refining her technique and maximizing her potential. Mills’ expertise in coaching sprinting could prove invaluable in enhancing Amusan’s explosiveness and efficiency over the hurdles. This collaboration could potentially lead to significant gains in her performance throughout the 2025 season. Combined with her recent 100m victory in Jamaica, the off-season training indicates a positive trajectory for Amusan as she seeks to regain her dominance in the hurdles.
As a three-time Diamond League winner (2021, 2022, and 2023), Amusan has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the women’s 100m hurdles. Her consecutive triumphs demonstrate her consistency and ability to perform at the highest level. While the Xiamen race might not have yielded the desired result, it provides valuable insights into her current form and areas for improvement. This experience, coupled with her ongoing training and upcoming competitions, positions her well for a potentially successful season ahead. The challenges she faces will undoubtedly serve as motivation to reclaim her position at the top of the hurdles world.
The 2025 season holds significant promise for Amusan. The World Relays and subsequent Diamond League events offer opportunities to refine her race strategy, improve her timings, and ultimately build towards major championships later in the year. Her continued training under Glen Mills’ guidance, combined with her competitive spirit and past achievements, suggests that she remains a strong contender for top honors in the women’s 100m hurdles. The Xiamen race serves as a stepping stone in her journey back to peak performance and a reminder of the fierce competition she faces in the pursuit of continued success.
