Tobi Amusan absent as Ackera Nugent breaks 100mH meet record

Ackera Nugent delivered a remarkable performance at the Diamond League Meeting in Silesia, capturing the women’s 100m hurdles title with a stunning time of 12.29 seconds. 

Nugent's victory was particularly significant as she not only claimed the title but also set a new meet record. 

The 22-year-old Jamaican hurdler outpaced a competitive field, including Olympic champion Masai Russell, who finished a distant fourth with a time of 12.40 seconds, weeks after winning gold with a time of 12.33 seconds to edge past France's Samba-Mayela (12.34 seconds).

American Grace Stark secured second place in 12.37 seconds, while Danielle Williams, another Jamaican contender, took third in 12.38 seconds.

Nugent’s victory in Silesia continues her impressive season.

 Despite a disappointing finish in the Olympic final, where she did not complete the race, she has indeed shown resilience and determination. 

Her third-place finish at her first Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne was a precursor to her authoritative performance in Silesia, where she has now firmly established herself as a rising star in women’s hurdling.

One of the most notable aspects of the Silesia race was the absence of Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, the reigning world record holder in the 100m hurdles. 

Amusan’s absence left a gap in the competition, creating an opportunity for other athletes to step up. 

Nugent, Stark, and Williams all took full advantage of the moment, each delivering strong performances in a race that could have perhaps seen a different outcome had Amusan been present.

Amusan’s return date is still unclear, having failed to reach the final of the women’s 100m hurdles event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Despite being one of the favourites for Team Nigeria to win a medal at the Olympics, her disappointing performance was a huge highlight in a series of Nigeria’s underwhelming showings at the Olympics.