American sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone clocked the second-fastest time ever recorded to claim gold in the women’s 400 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Thursday, Afrosport reports.
The 26-year-old, delivered a spotless performance, powering through wet conditions to cross the finish line in 47.78 seconds, setting a new Championship record by shattering previous one set by Czechoslovakia’s Jarmila Kratochvílova, who ran 47.99s back in 1983.
Defending champion and Olympic gold medallist Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic earned silver in a national record of 47.98s, while Nigerian-born Bahraini Salwa Eid Naser took bronze in 48.19s.
McLaughlin-Levrone, who broke the American record in the semi-finals, arrived at the final with momentum, with many expecting her to challenge the long-standing world record of 47.60 seconds held by Marita Koch of East Germany since 1985.
Drawn in lane five, the 400m hurdles world record holder exploded out of the blocks despite a slick track and falling rain.
By the halfway mark, the two-time Olympic champion had already surged past Britain’s Amber Anning and rounded the bend with precision.
Paulino mounted a late charge from the outside lane, momentarily threatening to close the gap, but McLaughlin-Levrone, eyes fixed on the clock, dug deep and powered through the final metres.
Crossing the line in dominant fashion, she set a new championship mark but fell just short of Koch’s world record, which has stood unbroken for four decades.
