New Balance Indoor Grand Prix: American Athlete Upsets Tobi Amusan to Take World Lead in Main Event

Before coming to the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Nigerian track and field star Tobi Amusan had certain boxes to tick. Previously, an allegation of failing a drug test had already marred her image in the track and field sphere. Moreover, the 100m hurdle world record holder needed to post a clean performance in front of the world to prove her mettle. On that estimate, the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix was the perfect occasion for Tobi Amusan to forge her comeback. But the occasion didn’t end as she expected. 

Moreover, that 60m hurdle event faced the competition far notched as the 2022 world indoor champion participated in the same. In that scenario, an American prodigy ascended to fame. 

The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix has a new face in the winner

The New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Brighton held a special fight between Tia Jones and Devynne Charlton. However, the track and field athlete from the Bahamas couldn’t do justice to her fame. But Tia Jones lit up the 60m hurdles event with a record. She completed the race in 7.72 seconds. That came as her personal best. Moreover, it is the Meet record. 

The young star of Nigeria, Tobi Amusan, could come closer with 7. 75 clocking. That’s the Nigerian national record. But the 2022 world indoor champion in the event had to be satisfied with the third rank. The result was quite heartbreaking for Tobi Amusan. Just a week ago, the sprinter claimed the African record in the 60-m indoor hurdle in Kazakhstan. Sunday, she improved her timing by 0.02 seconds. But that wasn’t enough in front of fiery Tia Jones. After the Razorback Invitational, it was Jones’ third 60m hurdles event. And all she could manage was defeating the 100m hurdle queen. But between those two talents, the latest one wasn’t the only fight that ended in Jones’ side. 

A similar fight but in Tobi Amusan’s backyard 

Last year, Tobi Amusan had faced Tia Jones in her favorite 100m hurdles event. The occasion was the Ostrava Golden Spike. To extend Tia Jones’ pain there, Olympian Jasmine Camacho-Quinn was also there. In such a situation, Jones didn’t have much expectation, except learning from the doyens. However, in the final result, she was almost on par with the Olympic champion, staying 0.02 seconds behind. But Amusan could feel meek in the third tank there. Her gap with Tia Jones’s timing was similar to the gap shown in the 60m hurdle event in the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix last evening. 

Read more: 17 Months After Battling Injury, Dina Asher-Smith Marks Comeback With a Fresh 300M Record

So in the Olympic year, Tia Jones might feel far more contained after hounding the world champion again. Now the 23-year-old might want to see her untouched Olympic dream in the upcoming days. 

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