By Damola Emmanuel
Like a Phoenix, Nigeria’s track sensation, Tobi Amusan, on Sunday, washed off all after-shocks of her short-lived suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit, AIU, for whereabouts failures, as well as last month’s dismal performance at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, to roar back to winning ways!
The Nigerian golden girl won her third consecutive 100 metres hurdles title at the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field, University of Oregon.
It was a great rebound as Amusan, like a hungry lioness, shoved aside the stiff challenge by fellow competitors to stamp her authority on the race, chalking her season’s best at 12.33 seconds.
Flotrack reports that Amusan got out strong and held off a strong field over the final hurdles, leaving hard-charging Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico to finish second in 12.38 and American Keni Harrison was third in 12.44. World champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica finished fourth in 12.47.
Indeed, for Amusan, weeping (over her now vacated suspension) may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning as the world record holder in the event crossed the finishing line in 12.33. The victory effectively brings a triumphant close to what has been a difficult summer for the track queen.
The week before the World Championships, Amusan was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for whereabouts failures, only to be cleared by a disciplinary tribunal on the eve of the meet’s kickoff. She wound up finishing an uncharacteristic sixth in the 100m hurdle final in Budapest.
Earlier in the day, and uncertainty over the future of Amusan’s career was laid to rest after the deadline for the AIU to file an official appeal against her overturned ban expired.
