Tobi Amusan of Nigeria burst down the straightaway and over the 10 hurdles in her path in world-record time Sunday afternoon at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Oh, and it was not even the final of the women’s 100-meter hurdles at the World Athletics Championships, but a semifinal heat, as Amusan clocked 12.12 seconds to break American Kendra Harrison’s world record of 12.20 set in 2016.
Amusan seemed as surprised as anyone by the scorching time.
Harrison, running in the same semifinal as Amusan, crossed the line second in a quick time of her own, 12.27.
In the second semifinal heat, the United States’ Alia Armstrong won in a personal-best 12.43, followed by Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas, who set a national record of 12.46.
Jamaica’s Britany Anderson won the third heat in national-record time, crossing in 12.31, just ahead of reigning Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, who was second in 12.32.
The time qualifiers for Sunday night’s 100 hurdles final were Jamaica’s Danielle Williams (12.41) and Great Britain’s Cindy Sember (12.50).
The final is set for 7 p.m. Sunday.