Globally renowned Nigerian athlete, Tobi Amusan has gained words of appreciation from her toughest rival, Masai Russell of USA, for helping her get better with stiff competition in the women’s 100 metres hurdles.
Sports247 reports that Russell did not allow thoughts about their rivalry overshadow her, as she thanked Amusan for pushing her hard to break the world record that was held by the Nigerian ace.
Russell provided this disclosure after she again beat Amusan in their latest 100mH clash to cap a sensational season by winning the event with a time of 12.22 seconds at the maiden World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hunagary.
Amusan finished second behnd Russell, who earlier broke the world record with 12.09 seconds in Zurich, Switzerland at the end of August, but the Olympic Games and Diamond League champion thanked the Nigerian lass for challenging her to maintain an unbeaten year.
She achieved it in style on Friday by clinching the inaugural Ultimate laurel, as she strode into the lead with only the final couple of barriers to go, then reached the finish line in 12.22 (0.1m/s) ahead of Amusan (12.34) and European champion, Nadine Visser (12.39).
It was Russell’s ninth race under 12.30 this season and 14th win, which came in the joint seventh fastest time of her career, surpassed only by five other athletes in history, hence the profound recognition she gave Amusan for charging her all the way.
Russell retorted, “I am glad I was able to come out here and get the job done. When you have 10 barriers to get over, it is just a different mentality. Coming back here after hitting the hurdle in 2023 and now being the Ultimate champion is a way to rewrite the story.
“I left here very sad three years ago. It was my first World Championships and now to be a record-holder and Olympic champion, with all of these accolades – and to do it at the Ultimate Championship on the same track – it just shows all the work.”
