Nigerian athlete Tobi Amusan, reigning world champion and record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, has progressed to the final of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

On Wednesday, she secured her place in the final by winning the second semi-final with a time of 12.56 seconds.

This performance marks her successful defense of the title she claimed in 2022.

Amusan’s steady start from the starting blocks proved effective once again, allowing her to finish ahead of Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent, who secured the second qualifying spot with a time of 12.60 seconds.

Amusan’s time of 12.56 seconds ranks as the eighth-best qualifying time for the final.

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In the heavyweight final today, the 26-year-old Nigerian athlete will compete against formidable opponents, including American former world record holder Kendra Harrison, who leads with a time of 12.33 seconds from the first semi-final, and Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who posted 12.41 seconds to win the last semi-final.

Last year, Amusan made history as Nigeria’s first-ever world champion and record holder in the event.

While she faced challenges this year, including a provisional suspension for whereabouts failures, she was ultimately found not guilty of Anti-Doping Rule Violations by the Disciplinary Tribunal, clearing her to compete. The final of the women’s 100m hurdles is scheduled for 7:22 pm Nigerian time.