Amusan Set For Busy Week As African Championships, Diamond League Resume

World record holder Tobi Amusan is preparing for a packed week that will see her open the 2026 season on two major fronts, beginning with the African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra before heading straight to the Diamond League opener in Shanghai.

The three-time Diamond League final winner leads Nigeria’s team to the continental meet, where she is scheduled to run the women’s 100m hurdles on the opening day and could return for the final on Wednesday.

Amusan arrives as one of Nigeria’s strongest medal hopes, having built an impressive record at the championships.

She won double gold in the 100m hurdles and 4x100m relay at the 2018 edition in Asaba, repeated the feat in Mauritius in 2022 and added another relay title in Douala in 2024.

Only days after competing in Ghana, the 28-year-old will switch focus to Shanghai/Keqiao on Saturday for the first meeting of the new Diamond League season. The race promises a stacked women’s 100m hurdles field featuring reigning world champion Ditaji Kambundji, Olympic champion Masai Russell, Jamaican world champion Danielle Williams and Bahamian star Devynne Charlton.

The lineup also includes Ackera Nugent, Tonea Marshall, Megan Simmonds and China’s Wu Yanni.

Amusan still holds the world record of 12.12 seconds, while Russell has a personal best of 12.17 seconds. Kambundji claimed the world title in Tokyo last year with a Swiss record of 12.24 seconds.

The Shanghai meeting will launch the 2026 Diamond League season, which ends with the two-day final in Brussels on September 4 and 5. Other stars expected in China include Faith Kipyegon, Shericka Jackson, Sha’Carri Richardson, Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Salwa Eid Naser.