Sports
2022 World Athletics Championships: Amusan Sets New African Record
Nigerian hurdler, Tobi Amusan, set a new African record in the heat three of the 100m women’s hurdles at the just World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA en route qualifying for the semi-finals.
The record saw the 25-year old led the semi-final race which took place in the early hours of yesterday.
Amusan, who previously held a personal best and African record of 12.41 seconds in June, surpassed her previous feat on Saturday as she ran a new record heat time ever at a global championship, finishing her race with a time of 12.40 seconds.
The UTEP alumnus, who missed out on the podium in Tokyo 2021, has now broken the African record three times in ten months (12.42 seconds in Zurich, 12.41 seconds in Paris and 12.40secs in Eugene).
The Nigerian hurdler finished ahead of Jamaica’s Danielle Williams (12.87 seconds), Ireland’s Sarah Lavin (12.99 seconds) and Australia’s Celeste Mucci (13.01 seconds).
In the semi-finals, the reigning African Games and African Championships will be up against US’s Alia Armstrong who recorded a time of 12.48 seconds.
Also in the semi-finals are Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn with a time of 12.52 seconds and Jamaica’s Brittany Anderson who finished first with a time of 12.59 seconds in heat one.
Amusan, who finished fourth three years ago at the World Championship in Doha, is seeking to become the second Nigerian sprint hurdler to win a medal at the championships after Glory Alozie, who won a silver medal in Seville, Spain in 1999.
This time around, Amusan felt that she could finally win a medal, buoyed by this recent achievements.
Also on Saturday, the quartet of Joy Udo-Gabriel, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Grace Nwokocha, secured qualification for the final of the Women’s 4×100m event.
Aside from being the second Nigerian relay team to make it to the final in Oregon, they are the first Nigerian team in 11 years to qualify for the women’s 4x100m final at the world championships.
The Nigerian ladies achieved the commendable feat after racing to a Season’s Best of 42.68 seconds to finish third in Heat 2 of the event.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.