Nigeria and Africa’s fastest woman in the 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, has made a remarkable comeback to the top 100 of the World Athletics women’s overall rankings after a year-long absence from the prestigious group.
Amusan, who slipped out of the elite rankings last year for the first time since the system began in 2019, has now surged back to 88th in the world with a ranking score of 1,366 points.
The 28-year-old world record holder first broke into the top 100 in 2019, debuting at No. 96, and her latest resurgence has been fuelled by outstanding performances on the track throughout the current season.
Her return to form has been highlighted by two impressive 12.45-second finishes and a season-best of 12.24s at the 2025 Paris Diamond League, where she secured second place behind Grace Stark. The 12.24s clocking represents her fastest time since setting the world record of 12.12s in Oregon, USA, in 2022.
With her return to peak form, Amusan has also reclaimed the title of Nigeria’s highest-ranked female athlete, overtaking Favour Ofili, who ended 2024 as the country’s top-ranked woman but has now dropped to 175th globally.
In her specialist event, the 100m hurdles, Amusan has climbed back into the world’s top 10, now ranked no.9 after finishing last year in 13th place.
The Nigerian sprint queen’s resurgence comes at a crucial time as she prepares for the major championships ahead. Her recent form suggests she is well-positioned to match or even surpass her exceptional 2022 season, where she was crowned the world’s best sprint hurdler and finished fifth overall in the women’s global rankings.
Amusan’s journey back to the summit has been marked by consistent performances across the Diamond League circuit. She recently clinched her second victory in the discipline this season in Ostrava with a time of 12.45s, demonstrating the consistency that has become her trademark.
The world record holder’s return to elite status has been further validated by her selection for the prestigious 50th edition of the Prefontaine Classic, set to take place on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Hayward Field, Oregon, United States.
The meet will hold special significance for Amusan, as it marks a symbolic homecoming to the venue where she set the current world record of 12.12s during the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
At the Prefontaine Classic, Amusan will face a star-studded field that includes reigning Olympic champion Masai Russell of the United States and world number one Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, setting up what promises to be one of the most electrifying contests of the entire meet.
With three of the sport’s biggest names headlining the race, the women’s 100m hurdles at the Prefontaine Classic is shaping up to be a defining moment in the 2025 season and could provide crucial momentum for Amusan as she continues her quest to reclaim her position as the world’s premier sprint hurdler.
Credit: punchng.com
