Ghana recruits US star to rival Tobi Amusan in the 100m Hurdles

Evonne Britton was a former US hurdler

Ghana recruits US star to rival Tobi Amusan in the 100m Hurdles

Funmilayo Fameso 21:46 - 08.04.2024

Top US hurdler Evonne Britton has switched nationality to Ghana and will now be Tobi Amusan's biggest competitor in Africa.

American speed hurdler Evonne Britton has completed her nationality switch to Ghana and is set to be a main rival to Nigeria's Tobi Amusan in the continent.

Britton represented the US at junior level and was a 400mH bronze medallist at the 2010 World Junior Championships, which was later upgraded to a silver medal after the drugs disqualification of race winner Katsiaryna Artyukh. 

Evonne Britton represented US at the 2010 World Junior Championships

The multi-talented hurdler was also a standout college athlete for Pennslyvania State University. Her career-ending scare came at the end of her second year when she had meniscus surgery on her left knee due to a fall while hurdling. However, she will end her college scholarship as an eight-time outdoor and indoor NCAA championship meet qualifier.

With her college success, Britton made a statement at the 2016 US Olympic Trials, where she clocked a Personal Best (PB) of 12.78s in the 100mH but didn't make the final, and in 2019 claimed her first senior US podium finish when she finished 2nd in the 60m Hurdles at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Evonne Britton was a former US hurdler

The 32-year-old met with several Ghanaian sports dignitaries to make her switch possible and will be gunning to qualify and don the country's colors at the Paris Olympic Games.

Evonne Britton will gun to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games

Britton now donning the Ghanaian colours means she will become Amusan's biggest rival in the continent. Her 60mH PB of 7.86s set in 2019 and 12.78s, are the fastest and closest times to the Nigerian World Record holder by an African sprint hurdler. 

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