Masai Russell narrowly misses 100m hurdles world record at Xiamen Diamond League
Russell was just 0.02s outside Tobi Amusan’s existing world record, while Yan Ziyi recorded the second longest women’s javelin throw in history
Olympic champion Masai Russell fell agonisingly short of the women’s 100m hurdles world record when she clocked 12. 14s at the Xiamen Diamond League on Saturday, while China’s Yan Ziyi recorded the second longest javelin throw by a woman in history at 71. 74m.
Russell, who became the world’s second-fastest woman in 100m hurdles when she clocked 12. 17s last year, made good on Friday’s promise to consistently build towards the world record this season, retaining a steady lead throughout the race. Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, who clocked 12.
12s to set the world record in 2022, finished second, 0. 14s behind the American. “I don’t know when (the world record) is going to come but I keep getting closer and closer,” said Russell.
“I’m blessed, I’m ecstatic and all the hard work is truly showing. ” Earlier in the day, 18-year-old Yan drew a wild cheer from the home crowd when she set the under-20 world record in her very first throw, falling just short of the 72. 28m thrown by Czech Barbora Spotakova for the current world record in 2008.