by Deji Ogeyingbo
The women’s 60m Hurdles continue to marvel— or even confuse us all.
Track and field has been a sport of acceptable margins. From running to jumping, milliseconds and millimeters have decided the fates and livelihoods of individuals, made the very best cry for not making the podium or event, and evoked enraging reactions from the faintest of minds who couldn’t believe they lost. At the end of the day, someone has to win, regardless of the circumstances.
The women’s sprint hurdles have never been this competitive. Whether the 60m hurdles indoors or the 100m outdoors, the margin for error is razor-thin, and the battle for the podium is unpredictable. The start of the 2025 season has only reinforced that reality, making every race a must-watch event.
Devynne Charlton defended her 60m hurdles title in 7.72 seconds at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing. That alone is impressive, but the times behind her told the real story. Ditaji Kambundji grabbed silver in 7.73, Ackera Nugent took bronze in 7.74, and three more women finished under 7.80—a feat never seen in a single race.
The top six were separated by just 0.04 seconds. For context, the 7.76 posted by Nadine Visser in sixth place would have been enough to win 15 of the last 20 world indoor championships. That’s how much the event has evolved. There is no room for a bad start, a mistimed hurdle, or even the slightest lapse in concentration.
Charlton, who entered the competition with only the eighth-best time of the season, peaked when it mattered most. She knew the challenge ahead, and she delivered. “The women always show up,” she said after the race. “To come away with a win against these ladies, it’s really cool.”
For Nugent, the level of competition was on display before the final even started. In the semifinals, she hit the last hurdle so hard that it nearly knocked her off balance. Somehow, she stayed on her feet, advanced to the final, and still won bronze. The difference between a medal and disappointment was measured in thousandths of a second.
If the indoor season was tight, the outdoor 100m hurdles scene would be even more brutal. Last season, twelve women ran under 12.40 seconds, which wasn’t enough for some to make a final, let alone win. Tobi Amusan, the world record holder, couldn’t even reach the Olympic final. That’s how deep the event has become.
Nugent led the world rankings with 12.24, followed closely by Masai Russell at 12.25. Cyréna Samba-Mayela, Alaysha Johnson, and Grace Stark clocked 12.31, while 2012 Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn was only the sixth-fastest on the season at 12.35. Every major championship feels like a coin flip.
Skrzyszowska, POL, bronze, Apeldoorn2025, photo by Sona Maleterova
Visser and Pia Skrzyszowska, two European stars, ran in the 12.3s, proving that this isn’t just an American-dominated event. There’s talent coming from every corner. One lousy race could mean an early exit, no matter who you are.
This level of competition is a gift to the sport. Unlike other events where dominant champions rule for years, the women’s hurdles now feel like a weekly thriller. Fans don’t just watch to see who wins—they watch because they genuinely don’t know who will. It’s no longer about one or two stars. Every race is a battle between at least six or seven elite contenders.
For the athletes, this is both exciting and exhausting. There is no coasting through rounds and no saving energy for later. Every heat, semifinal, and final is a war. Small details—reaction time, rhythm between hurdles, late-race strength—determine everything.
Heading into the outdoor season, the question is: who will rise? Will Charlton translate her indoor dominance to the 100m hurdles? Can Kambundji, Nugent, and Skrzyszowska carry their indoor form outdoors? Will Amusan bounce back? Or will new names emerge to shake things up again?
One thing is sure: there are no guarantees anymore. And for a sport that thrives on drama, that’s exactly how it should be.
