Masai Russell Smashes Tobi Amusan's World Record in Zurich; Nigerian Finishes Second

American Olympic champion Masai Russell delivered a stunning performance at the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday, shattering the women's 100m hurdles world record with a time of 12.09 seconds. Russell's blistering run eclipsed the previous mark of 12.12 seconds, set by Nigeria's Tobi Amusan at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

Amusan was present to witness her record fall but responded with a strong performance of her own, clocking a season-best 12.23 seconds to secure second place. This marked the end of Amusan's four-year tenure as the world record holder in the event. Despite the setback, her performance indicates a return to form as she prepares for the upcoming Diamond League Final in Brussels.

Russell's record-breaking 12.09-second performance was achieved without wind assistance and also set new Diamond League and meeting records. The race saw Nadine Visser of the Netherlands finish third with a time of 12.34 seconds.

While Amusan's historic reign at the top has concluded, she remains a formidable competitor, having won the Diamond League title three times previously. She will now focus on the upcoming final, where she is expected to face Russell again on a major stage, setting the stage for an anticipated rematch.

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Amusan was on the track to witness her record fall but responded with an impressive performance of her own, running a season-best 12.23 seconds to finish second.