Tobi Amusan Wins 100m Hurdles Heat in 12.53s at 2025 World Athletics Championships

Tobi Amusan Opens Her Title Chase with a Smooth 12.53s Run in Tokyo

Tobi Amusan

World record holder Tobi Amusan began her campaign at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with a calm and commanding performance in the women’s 100 metres hurdles preliminary round. Running in the final heat of the day, Amusan clocked 12.53 seconds to secure first place ahead of Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas, who came through in 12.69 seconds, and Elena Carraro of Italy, who finished in 12.86 seconds. It was a run that carried the confidence of an athlete who has been here before and knew that this was only the first step on the road to the bigger races ahead.

The time was not close to her own world record of 12.12 seconds, set in 2022 at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, but the aim of preliminary races is not to run records. For experienced hurdlers like Amusan, the main task is to clear the round without mistakes, stay relaxed, and qualify safely for the semi-finals. That was exactly what she did. From the moment she left the blocks, she was in control, hurdling with good rhythm and never under threat from her challengers in the heat. She crossed the line with enough ease to show that she had plenty left in the tank for the battles to come.

Amusan’s performance was one of the most closely watched moments of the opening rounds. As Nigeria’s biggest star on the global track scene, her races attract special attention. She is the defending champion and a two-time world championship medalist, and she carries the hopes of millions of Nigerians who have followed her journey with pride. Every step she takes on the track is followed at home with a mixture of excitement and expectation. Her first outing in Tokyo did not disappoint, as she looked composed and in good shape.

In the other heats, several of her rivals also made strong statements. Danielle Williams of Jamaica, a two-time world champion, posted the fastest time of the day with 12.40 seconds in Heat 2. The American Grace Stark was close behind with 12.46 seconds, while Nadine Visser of the Netherlands ran 12.48, and Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska stopped the clock at 12.51. Amusan’s 12.53 put her fifth overall on the combined results list from the preliminaries, a position that reflects the depth of competition in this event. The times suggest that the semi-finals will be very competitive, and Amusan will need to raise her level to ensure a place in the final.

For Amusan, however, there was no reason for concern. In the past, she has shown the ability to produce her best when it matters most. At the 2022 World Championships, she set the world record in the semi-final and then returned just hours later to win the final. At the Tokyo championships, her plan appears to be similar, conserve energy in the early rounds, stay sharp, and build towards the final. Her clean hurdling and relaxed stride in the prelims were signs that she is in control of her race strategy.

Speaking after the race, Amusan expressed satisfaction with her start. She explained that the goal was to execute her race properly and move on to the next round. Athletes at this level know that the championship is a three-step process: survive the heats, qualify from the semis, and then deliver in the final. A stumble or a misstep can end the dream, so running a safe and controlled preliminary is always the wise approach.

Back home in Nigeria, social media was buzzing with reactions to her run. Fans hailed her as a symbol of resilience and a source of national pride. Many remembered how she overcame challenges off the track, including a suspension scare in 2023 that she later cleared, to continue competing at the highest level. For supporters, seeing her back on the world stage leading her heat reminded them of her fighting spirit and determination.

The Tokyo championships also bring back memories of the last Olympic Games held in the same city in 2021, where Amusan narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth in the final. That result left her with unfinished business in Tokyo, and this time, she is aiming to make the city the stage for another chapter in her story. Winning a medal here, especially gold, would mark a significant return and further cement her legacy in the history of athletics.

Her main challengers will not make the task easy. Danielle Williams is in fine form and has already shown her sharpness with the fastest time in the prelims. Devynne Charlton, though behind Amusan in their heat, is known for her consistency and ability to deliver under pressure. The Americans, led by Grace Stark and others, will also pose serious threats. With so many athletes capable of running close to 12.3 or even 12.2 seconds, the margin for error in the semi-finals and final will be very small.

Still, Amusan has something special that sets her apart. Her start, her quick clearance over hurdles, and her ability to maintain form under pressure are qualities that have carried her to the top before. When she is in full flow, her races have a smoothness that makes them look almost effortless. The 12.53 she ran in the prelims was far from her fastest, but the smoothness was there. It was the look of an athlete waiting to unleash her best when the stakes are highest.

The semi-finals are scheduled for the following day, with the final to come later in the championships. Athletics fans around the world will be watching closely, and in Nigeria, television and online streams will carry the races live, with millions tuning in to cheer their champion. The excitement is already building, with many predicting that Amusan could once again rise to the occasion and challenge for gold.

Her journey in athletics has always been one of resilience. From her early days in Ijebu Ode to her rise through collegiate athletics in the United States, she has faced doubts and setbacks but continued to break barriers. Her world record in 2022 made her the first Nigerian to hold a world record in track and field, and her success inspired a new generation of athletes back home. Every time she lines up on the track, she represents more than herself. She represents a story of what is possible when talent meets hard work and determination.

As she moves into the semi-finals in Tokyo, the world waits to see what comes next. Will she find the rhythm that carried her to the world record? Can she hold off the challenge of the Jamaicans, the Americans, and the Europeans? Will Tokyo finally give her the medal moment she missed in the past? These questions will only be answered on the track, but for now, one thing is clear: Tobi Amusan has started her campaign in style, and Nigeria has every reason to dream again.

Her 12.53-second run may not make headlines as one of the fastest times of the day, but it was exactly what she needed to do. In championships, survival is as important as speed, and Amusan has once again shown that she knows how to manage her races. The semi-finals and the final will demand more, but if her history is anything to go by, she will be ready when it matters most. For the fans, the anticipation continues to grow, as they wait to see if their champion can write another golden chapter in her career.

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