Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo won the women’s 400 meters final at the World Athletics Championships 2022 here at Hayward Field on Friday (22) –clocking a world-leading 49.11 seconds to finally secure her first world outdoor gold medal.
Miller-Uibo, the two-time Olympic champion, had won silver medals at the world championships in 2015 and silver in 2019, but she had never won the gold medal at the Worlds.
However, the Bahamian changed that on Friday in Oregon, after she ran a very strong opening 300m and then powered away from the entire field to finally secure her first outdoor world title.
Marileidy Paulino from the Dominican Republic finished with the silver medal behind Miller-Uibo in 49.60 seconds with the bronze going to Sada Williams, who became the first woman from Barbados to win a World Athletics Championships medal.
“It has been a long time coming and the main thing for us this season was the World Championships and a gold medal,” said Miller-Uibo.
“The times didn’t matter to me. It was all about making sure we secured the gold medal. That’s one thing we were missing so I ran a very tactical race.
“To get this one I’m really happy,” she said. “It’s a very tough race to run … I’m very happy with the performance.”
Meanwhile, Paulino, who entered the world championships as world leader, told reporters: “I am privileged to be able to represent my country and take it to the highest level.
“The Dominican Republic is a force to be reckoned with.”
Sada Williams delighted with Caribbean 400m medal sweep
Williams, who trains in Jamaica with Shericka Jackson at the MVP Track Club, clocked a national record of 49.75 in third.
“I’m very happy that all medal winners are from the Caribbean,” she told reporters.
“I just wanted to go out there and run under 50 seconds, and if that got me on the podium, I would be happy. I can only imagine how happy they are at home.”
Dutch national record holder Lieke Klaver ran 50.33 secs for fourth place, followed by Jamaica’s Stephenie Ann McPherson (50.36) and Fiordaliza Cofil (50.57) from the Dominican Republic.
Women’s 400m final results – World Athletics Championships 2022
| RESULT | |||
| POS | COUNTRY | ATHLETE | MARK |
| 1 | BAH | Shaunae MILLER-UIBO | 49.11 WL |
| 2 | DOM | Marileidy PAULINO | 49.60 |
| 3 | BAR | Sada WILLIAMS | 49.75 NR |
| 4 | NED | Lieke KLAVER | 50.33 |
| 5 | JAM | Stephenie Ann MCPHERSON | 50.36 |
| 6 | DOM | Fiordaliza COFIL | 50.57 |
| 7 | JAM | Candice MCLEOD | 50.78 |
| 8 | POL | Anna KIEŁBASIŃSKA | 50.81 |
Photo: Getty Images for World Athletics
