An amazing season of five records for Amusan 

A Nigeria record, African record, Commonwealth Games record, World record and on Thursday another record at the World Athletics Golden League final what an amazing season for Tobi Amusan.

Several newly crowned world champions triumphed at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich on Thursday but Amusan and Noah Lyles excelled when breaking long-standing Weltklasse meeting records that had previously been held by legends of the sport.

Nigeria’s world record-holder Amusan capped a sensational season by adding the Diamond Trophy to her ever-expanding prize cabinet, beating a highly competitive field in a thrilling 100m hurdles final.

The 25-year-old is no stranger to breaking records – her world record of 12.12 was set in the semifinals at the World Championships in Oregon, where she went on to get gold, and her Commonwealth title was gained in a Games record.

This time it was a meeting record that fell, Amusan running 12.29 to take a tenth of a second off the mark that had been set by USA’s multiple Olympic and world gold medallist Gail Devers in 2000.

It ensured a clear win, and in a field featuring a whole host of other global medallists it was USA’s 22-year-old Tia Jones, the 2018 world U20 champion, who secured second place in 12.40 – the second-fastest time of her career so far behind the 12.38 PB she set for the runner-up spot in Brussels.

Jamaica’s world silver medallist Britany Anderson was third with 12.42, while Puerto Rico’s Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn finished fourth in 12.49.

“Everyone has doubted me. I just had to prove myself, that I have got it,” said Amusan, who also won the African title this year. “I am just so thankful for all of this season. I am full of emotions. Now, vacation, rest and then back to practice.”

Lyles was also close to matching the kind of form he showed when winning at the World Championships.

The US sprinter, drawn in lane six, was already up on Olympic silver medallist and defending Diamond League champion Kenny Bednarek half way round the bend. By the time he entered the straight, Lyles was clearly ahead of the rest of the field – and that was before he’d unleashed his trademark strong finish.

He crossed the line in 19.52, an incredible half a second clear of his opponents, and broke Usain Bolt’s meeting record of 19.66 from 10 years ago.
Canada’s Aaron Brown placed second in a photofinish from Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic, both men clocking 20.02.

Fellow world champion Shericka Jackson’s winning margin was even greater in the women’s half-lap sprint.

Just as she did at the World Championships, the Jamaican dominated the race to win in 21.80 from Olympic bronze medallist Gabby Thomas (22.38), who was returning to action following a mid-season injury.

Dominican Republic’s world and Olympic silver medallist Marileidy Paulino was the favourite going into the women’s 400m final and she lived up to that billing in style, running the race of her life to win the first Diamond League title of the second day of action in Zurich.

The fastest race in the world this season, the 25-year-old became the 12th athlete to ever dip under 49 seconds, clocking 48.99 for a clear win.

She led the top three under 50 seconds, her compatriot and fellow world finalist Fiordaliza Cofil finishing second in 49.93 and world bronze medallist Sada Williams of Barbados placing third in 49.98.

There was seventh heaven for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m, Jamaica’s five-time world champion becoming the first athlete to run sub-10.70 on seven occasions in the same season.

Storming to a meeting record-equalling time of 10.65 (-0.8m/s), the 35-year-old won her fifth Diamond League title – four claimed in the 100m in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and one in the 200m from 2013 – ahead of Jackson, who ran 10.81 before going on to win the 200m. African record-holder Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast was third in 10.91.

“I am very proud that I came away with a 10.65. I started (the season) with a 10.6 and I finish with a 10.6, so there is nothing more I could ask for,” said Fraser-Pryce. She made a late decision to take her place in the final after the start date for her son Zyon starting back at school got pushed back.

On where she will keep this fifth Diamond Trophy, she said: “In Zyon’s bedroom! Every year when I go to a championship, and I get a mascot or anything, I give it to him, so he has a tonne on his bed. So I’m going to add that to his collection.