World record holder in women's 100m hurdles, Nigeria's Tobi Amusan, has dropped to third place in the global rankings as reigning Olympic champion Masai Russell surged to the top following consecutive Diamond League victories in Shanghai and Xiamen.
The 25-year-old American, who will turn 26 next month, recorded impressive times of 12.25 and 12.14 seconds, boosting her ranking score to 1391 points. Just eight days ago, Russell was ranked fourth, but her outstanding performances have propelled her past compatriot Grace Stark, who remains second with 1386 points.
Amusan also improved her standing, moving from 1379 to 1385 points after clocking 12.41 and 12.28 seconds in the same Diamond League meetings. Despite this, she now sits third in the global rankings.
In head-to-head clashes, Amusan leads Russell 7-5, although the American has won their last two encounters.
AFN Confirms 2026 Championships in Lagos
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has confirmed that the 2026 Nigerian Track and Field Championships will be held at the Yabatech Sports Ground in Yaba, Lagos. The event is scheduled from June 19 to 22 and will serve as the official selection trials for this year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, which run from July 23 to August 2, 2026.
The Championships were initially planned for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, but the AFN has decided to return to Lagos for the second consecutive year. Federation President Tonobok Okowa explained the decision, citing logistical considerations. “We wanted Uyo, but for logistical and other reasons, we have now decided to hold it in Lagos,” he said.
