TOBI AMUSAN '19

Tobi Amusan ’19 broke the world record for the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

It was July 2022 during the World Athletics Championship in Eugene, Oregon. Tobi ran the semifinal race in 12.12 seconds, breaking the world record of 12.20 seconds set in 2016.

That’s just the UTEP alumna’s most recent accomplishment.

As a UTEP student, Tobi won the 2017 NCAA championship in the 100-meter hurdles and was named Conference USA Female Track Athlete of the Year. She also competed at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics for Nigeria.

Tobi came to UTEP from Nigeria in 2016 on an athletic scholarship. She said UTEP gave her the opportunity to study in the United States and prove herself on the track. Education is important to Tobi because both of her parents are teachers back home in Nigeria. She chose to pursue a degree in health promotion because she wanted to study something that was related to track to make her a better athlete.

Even though Tobi stopped competing for UTEP in 2018 to compete professionally, she continued her studies and graduated in 2019. Tobi is now a master’s student in UTEP’s online Leadership Studies program.

Tobi’s experience as a student helped her develop confidence and shaped who she is on the field.

“UTEP helped me propel myself forward for the future,” she said. “Thanks to UTEP, I was able to attain the level I have in my career right now, I have an undergrad degree and I’m pursuing my master’s.”