IAAF 2019 WC: Tobi Amusan in contention for medal in Doha

Africa’s fastest female hurdler, Tobi Amusan is not ready to trade her concentration with media attention ahead of the 2019 IAAF World Championships holding in Doha, Qatar.

The America-based star has the fastest time in the women 100m hurdles this year with 12.49secs being her personal best.

According to the top timing this year in the event, Amusan is fourth-best behind Jamaica’s duo of Danielle Williams (12.32secs) and Janeek Brown (12.40secs) as well as American Kendra HARRISON (12.43secs).

Efforts by NationSport to seek the views of Amusan on her readiness for the showpiece in Doha, she simply said: “I am sorry, I don’t talk before any major event. We can only talk after the event. Please, I am sorry for this and I hope you bear with me sir.”

However, in the IAAF preview of the event, Amusan was described as a potential finalist in Qatar. “Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan has had one of her best seasons to date, clocking a PB of 12.49 in July and following it with 12.51 to win at the recent ISTAF meeting in Berlin. Over the past 18 months, the Nigerian has won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, African Championships and African Games, so clearly thrives in a championship setting,” the world athletics ruling body stated.

Amusa will have to contend with Jamaican Danielle Williams who after winning the world 100m hurdles title four years ago was seen as one of the biggest surprise performances of the championships.

Now, however, the Jamaican heads to Doha as one of the favourites in her event.

At the IAAF Diamond League meeting in London, Williams ran a PB of 12.41 in her heat and followed it with a national record of 12.32 to win the final, moving to seventh on the world all-time list. She notched up two more IAAF Diamond League victories, winning in Birmingham and at the final in Zurich, clocking 12.46 on both occasions.

Read Also: World Championships: Okagbare, Amusan lead Team Nigeria to Doha

As the 3,500 athletes from 205 await the kick off of the championships on Friday, September 27, Doha will be the first city in the Middle East to host the IAAF World Championships.