Amusan Faces Williams, Charlton at Athlos

Nigerian sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan will face a strong field featuring world indoor record holder Devynne Charlton and former world champion Danielle Williams at the Athlos meeting in London on Friday.

The women’s 100m hurdles is among the headline events at the female-only athletics competition, which will be held at StoneX Stadium in Barnet.

Amusan was confirmed for the event in August and will compete against several established names as she continues her 2026 season.

Charlton, of The Bahamas, holds the world indoor record in the 60m hurdles and has established herself as one of the leading hurdlers on the international circuit. Williams, a Jamaican, is a former world champion and has also competed regularly at the highest level.

American Alaysha Johnson and Jamaica’s Megan Simmonds are among the other athletes expected to compete in the hurdles event.

Reigning world record holder and Olympic champion Masai Russell had also been scheduled to participate but withdrew earlier this week after winning the Diamond League and the World Ultimate Championship.

Amusan remains one of the biggest names in the field. The Nigerian holds the women’s 100m hurdles world record of 12.12 seconds, set at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, where she won the world title.

The Athlos series was launched by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and made its debut at New York’s Icahn Stadium in 2024. The competition is designed exclusively around women’s athletics and offers substantial financial rewards to participants.

The London meeting carries a $2.1m overall prize purse. Athletes can earn up to $65,000 for winning an individual event, while overall champions receive an additional $25,000.

Athletes are also being offered equity in the league, giving them a potential financial stake in the competition’s future success.

The London event was initially planned as part of an expanded two-city series, with another meeting scheduled for New York in October. However, the New York event was subsequently cancelled.

For Amusan, the meeting provides another opportunity to test herself against leading international hurdlers and continue building momentum during the season.

The Nigerian will be seeking a strong performance in London as she competes against rivals with world and Olympic credentials.

The race is expected to attract considerable attention given the quality of the field and the presence of one of Nigeria’s most successful track and field athletes.