Amusan sets new world record in 100m hurdles in Jaimaca

Tobi Amusan at the Diamond League Finals after her win on Sunday.

World record holder Tobi Amusan, is the fastest woman in the women’s 100m hurdles this year after running a blistering 12.40s to win the first Jamaica Athletics Invitational in Kingston, to win the race ahead of Jamaican and world champion, Danielle Williams.

For most part of the race, Amusan was behind reigning world champion Williams and America’s Nia Ali but surged ahead in the closing stages, beating the previous world-leading time of 12.42s set by Tonea Marshall of the USA on April 20.

Williams finished second in 12.46s seconds, with Christina Clemens of the USA taking third place in 12.54s.

Another Jamaican athlete, Yanique Thompson, secured fourth in 12.59s while Ali slipped to fifth with a time of 12.65s.

Amusan and other prominent athletes snubbed the Doha Diamond League to attend the Jamaica Invitational.

The Nigerian ended last season on a high by winning the Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon for a third consecutive time, silencing critics about her disappointing performance at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest where she placed fifth and lost the title to Williams.