By Ben Efe 27.8.2026
There was no stopping Masai Russell from accomplishing the task she set for herself this season… breaking Tobi Amusan’s 12.12seconds women’s 100mh hurdles record.
And the reigning Olympic champion achieved the feat at the Diamond League meet in Zurich on Thursday, coasting to a 12.09seconds run to set a new record subject to ratification.
Amusan finished second with a 12.23 seasons best, while Visser Nadine was third with 12.34 seconds
Russell, whose previous best was 12.14sec, dominated the race, with a fast start setting her out into the front from the first two hurdles.
I’m still processing it,” Russell said. “I’ve been chasing it and the world’s been talking about it, so just to finally do it, it’s like, all right, I can breathe a little bit. Not all the way, but partially.”
Amusan was consoled running her season’s best.
“Competing in a world record race is amazing.
“I came out here and I did my best and I am happy with this SB.”
Another record of the night in a sold out Letzigrund Stadium was taken by Alison Dos Santos who clocked clocking a sensational 45.80 seconds to beat the previous mark of 45.94sec set by Norway’s Karsten Warholm when winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Warhom was second with 46.59secs, while Ezekiel Nathaniel finished third with 47.50 seconds.
“I have been showing great form throughout the season — that I am fast, I am strong,” said a confident Dos Santos, with Warholm finishing second and dubbing their discipline a “crazy eve
Both Dos Santos and Russell will leave Zurich with a cheque each for $80,000 for having broken their respective records. With agency reports