Tobi Amusan, the Nigerian world record holder in the 100m hurdles, took center stage at the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational on Saturday, May 11th.
In an impressive display of athleticism, Amusan clocked a world-leading time of 12.40 seconds in Kingston, securing victory over home favorite and reigning world champion Danielle Williams (12.46). USA’s Christina Clemens claimed third place with a time of 12.54 seconds.
The women’s 100m event showcased the prowess of another African athlete, Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith from Cote d’Ivoire, who dominated the race with a remarkable time of 10.91 seconds. Ta Lou-Smith’s performance marked the third-fastest time in the world this year, leaving Jamaica’s Krystal Sloley (11.09) to settle for second place.
In the men’s 200m, former 100m world champions Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman aimed to capitalize on their early-season success. However, Zharnel Hughes, representing Britain, emerged victorious with a season’s best time of 19.96 seconds. Kerley finished second in 20.17 seconds, while Coleman trailed behind in fifth place with a time of 20.46 seconds.
The women’s 400m hurdles witnessed another world-leading performance as Rushell Clayton of Jamaica narrowly edged out USA’s Anna Cockrell. Clayton crossed the finish line in 53.72 seconds, just four-hundredths of a second ahead of Cockrell, showcasing the intense competition at the event.
