Nigeria’s hope of medalling at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics dwindled after Tobi Amusan failed to qualify for the final of the women’s 100m hurdles.
Amusan finished in a shocking third in her semi-final in a time of 12.55s said, same as Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska in fourth. The semi-final was won by USA’s Stark Grace in 12.39s, while Devynne Charlton from Bahamas was second 12.50s.
This meant Amusan had to wait to see if she would qualify for the final as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers alongside Skrzyszowska.
The second semi-final which was won by USA’s Alaysha Johnson provided a little hope for Amusan as Charisma Taylor from Bahamas ran a slower tie at 12.63s. Netherland’s Nadine Visser was second in 12.43s.
Amusan and the whole nation’s hopes were dashed in the last semi-final when Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent and France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela in third and fourth ran a faster time than Amusan, sealing her fate of missing out of the final.
Nugent ran 12.44s, while Samba-Mayela finished in 12.52s behind defending Olympic Champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn who won in 12.35s and USA’s Masai Russel in second in 12.42s.
Nigeria had earlier lost another opportunity to medal after the men’s 4x400m relay team were disqualified in the semi-final for lane violation. Another medal hopeful, Ese Brume – who won bronze medal at the last Olympics – also finished fifth in the women’s long jump event Thursday evening.
