2022 100m hurdles World Champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan added another historic accolade to her illustrious career over the weekend by being inducted into the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024.
Amusan is coached by Jamaican Olympian Lacena Golding-Clarke, who played a pivotal role in shaping her development as a world-class hurdler.
Amusan, who competed for the UTEP Miners from 2016 to 2017, is now the youngest female athlete to receive this prestigious honour. Her remarkable contributions to the university’s athletics program during her collegiate career earned her a permanent place in its history.
Amusan’s time at UTEP was nothing short of extraordinary. She claimed the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships title in the 100m hurdles with a scintillating time of 12.57 seconds, a school record that still stands. She also earned three All-American honors, finishing as the runner-up at the 2016 NCAA Championships, and claimed five Conference USA titles. Her record-breaking exploits extended to the indoor circuit, where she set the school mark of 7.98 seconds in the 60m hurdles.
Reflecting on her induction, Amusan shared her gratitude and journey in a heartfelt message on Instagram:
"I humbly introduce to you the youngest Female Miner to be inducted into UTEP’s Hall Of Fame Class of 2024 ✨. Three semesters as a Miner and the rest is… GREAT IS GOD’S FAITHFULNESS ??,” she wrote on social media.
"Got a full-ride scholarship to maximize my athletics abilities whilst studying full-time from January 2016 to August 2017. All thanks to @djphresh_suncity for the recommendation, my round emergency contact ?, @coachlacenagoldingclarke & @coachdclarke_oly—I’m forever indebted to you for accepting to mentor this little girl with the weirdest hurdles techniques.”
Amusan also expressed gratitude to the UTEP Athletics Department for giving her the opportunity and to her friends and teammates from her collegiate days.
Since leaving UTEP, Amusan has continued to soar on the global stage, becoming the first Nigerian to win a World Athletics Championship gold medal. She achieved this milestone in Eugene, Oregon, in 2022, where she also set the current world record of 12.12 seconds in the semi-finals of the 100m hurdles.