American hurdler Masai Russell has set a new world record in the women’s 100m hurdles, breaking the mark previously held by Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan at the Zurich Diamond League.
Russell clocked an astonishing 12.09 seconds to win the race, improving on Amusan’s previous world record of 12.12 seconds, which the Nigerian set in 2022.
The Olympic champion produced a powerful finish, pulling away from her rivals over the final hurdle before crossing the line in record-breaking fashion.
Her performance came on a remarkable night in Zurich, where Brazil’s Alison dos Santos also broke the men’s 400m hurdles world record with a time of 45.80 seconds.
Russell’s achievement brings an end to Amusan’s four-year reign as the world-record holder in the event. The Nigerian had established the 12.12-second mark at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene.
Despite breaking the record, Russell believes there could be even faster times ahead. The American said her performance showed she had reached a new level and suggested that breaking the 12-second barrier could be possible.
The record also adds another major achievement to Russell’s career following her Olympic success, further establishing her as one of the leading figures in women’s sprint hurdles.
