World 100m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan, will not be competing in her signature event at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, Jamaica, today (Saturday), as she lines up instead in the elite Women’s 100m A Final.
The 27-year-old Nigerian star was initially slated to race in the B Final but was later moved to the marquee A Final officially dubbed the “Championship Sponsored by KFC” where she will face a world-class field of sprinters.
Amusan is set to battle Jamaica’s top talents, including Tia and Tina Clayton, Kemba Nelson, Ashanti Moore, and Alana Reid, along with American speedsters Mikiah Brisco and Jacious Sears, in what promises to be a thrilling contest at the National Stadium.
A New Chapter in Her Career
Amusan heads into the race with a season’s best of 11.28 seconds, clocked at the Velocity Fest 16 in Kingston in March. There, she won her heat in 11.41s before improving to 11.28s in the final her first 100m flat race of the year.
Today’s race marks her second 100m flat outing of the 2025 season and her third since April 2024, when she competed at the Tom Jones Memorial in Florida and finished third with 11.26s just shy of her personal best of 11.10s.
In what appears to be a strategic shift in her career, Amusan has gradually turned her focus from hurdles to flat sprinting. The transition began after the Tokyo Olympics and was solidified in November 2024 when she moved from the United States to Kingston to join the Racers Track Club, under the guidance of legendary sprint coach Glen Mills the mentor behind icons like Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake.
“More Sprinter Than Hurdler” — Amusan
Speaking about her decision, Amusan said she always felt drawn to sprinting.
“I feel like I’m more of a sprinter than a hurdler, and I wasn’t about to let that talent go to waste,” she said.
The move was a joint decision made with her long-time coach, Lacena Golding-Clarke, after the Olympics. They assessed their options and concluded that Racers Track Club offered the best platform for her development.
“It’s been great. The way Coach Mills trains is similar to what I’ve done over the years,” Amusan added. “I’m a fragile athlete; I can’t take a daily beating, so it takes a very special coach to work with someone like me.”
Despite a minor training setback earlier this year, Amusan confirmed she is regaining form.
“I’m taking it one day at a time. I had a little hiccup in training, but things have been going well, and I’m excited for the rest of the season.”
Her growing presence in sprint events has sparked conversations in the athletics world, especially as she continues to test her speed over the flat 100m.
“I’ve competed at the Racers Grand Prix for two years in a row and haven’t lost yet,” she said confidently. “The atmosphere is always electric. The fans bring the energy, and we feed off that. Hopefully, we’ll see a full stadium this time around.”
Favour Ofili Withdraws from Grand Prix
Meanwhile, fellow Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili, who was among the headline names for the meet, has withdrawn from this year’s Racers Grand Prix. No official reason has been provided for her withdrawal.
The Racers Grand Prix is a signature annual meet organised by Glen Mills and attracts top-tier sprinters from around the world.
