Diamond League: Camacho-Quinn dethrones Amusan in Lausanne

Puerto Rico sprinter, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, held off a strong challenge from world champion and world-record holder Tobi Amusan, to win the 100m at the Athletissima Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on Friday, Saturday PUNCH reports.

Camacho-Quinn ran a meet record 12.34secs to win the 100m hurdles ahead of Amusan, who won silver with a time of 12.45secs. Tia Jones of the USA placed third setting a new personal best of 12.47secs.

The race was much anticipated as it was the first time Amusan, would be running against the Puerto Rican and USA’s Kendra Harrison after breaking the Word Record at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene last month.

The 25-year-old had run a time of 12.12secs in the semi-final to break Harrison’s world record time of 12.20secs in the semi-final, before defending her Commonwealth Games title in Birmingham, UK, setting a games record of 12.30secs to claim gold.

Amusan had won the Diamond League final last year – becoming the first Nigerian to do so.

She became the first Nigerian to win the 2021 Diamond League Final when she won the women’s 100m hurdles, breaking Glory Alozie’s 23-year African record with a time of 12.42secs.

Amusan placed first ahead of Dutch Nadine Visser, who finished second in a time of 12.51secs. 2020 Olympics bronze medallist, Megan Tapper, from Jamaica, placed third in 12.55secs.

While Amusan will not be featuring at the Brussels Diamond League on September 2, which has both Camacho-Quinn and Harrison on the line-up, the trio is expected to go head-to-head again at the Diamond League final in Zurich on September 8.

Amusan inspired Team Nigeria to a seventh place finish with 35 medals, 12 gold, nine silver, and 14 bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.