TOKYO, Japan – Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo decisively defended her Olympic 400 metres title when she crushed the field in a commanding performance at the Tokyo Games in Japan on Friday.
A day after her compatriot Steven Gardiner won the men’s equivalent, the 27-year-old gave even more evidence that the Bahamas are the World number one in the one lap event, as she stormed to victory in a new national record of 48.36 seconds.
So dominant was Miller-Uibo that once she opened up a near five-metre lead with 75 metres still to run, the battle became one for the remaining podium spots.
Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic claimed silver while lowering her national record to 49.20, while American Alison Felix overtook Jamaican Stephenie-Ann McPherson late on to clinch bronze in a season-best 49.46.
McPherson, who was slowed by mid-race cramp, was fourth in 49.61 while teammate Candice McLeod finished fifth in 49.87.
“I know God was going to bring me through. I was going through a whole lot of aches and pains but God always makes a way and I’m just so thankful,” Miller-Uibo said following her victory.
“I don’t want to be emotional but I’m so thankful to God for how far he has brought me and to be able to go home with a gold medal is a blessing.”
She added: “[Prior to the race] I was saying ‘watch God’. That’s what I’ve been saying for the past two years – ‘hashtag watch-God.’”
Running out of lane seven, Miller-Uibo was away strongly, with McPherson on her heels in lane six and Felix, in lane nine, and Great Britain’s Jodie Williams, in lane eight, still in contention.
But Miller-Uibo powered through the curve to leave the field in her wake, crossing the line nearly eight metres ahead of her closest rival.
Her repeat victory put her on par with Marie-Jose Perec, the Guadeloupe native who won the same event for France in 1992 and 1996.
In addition, the stunning performance gave the Bahamas its third gold medal in the women’s 400 metres, the first one secured by Tonique Williams-Darling in 2004.
“I am so happy right now I could cry. I’ve been dealing with a whole lot of injuries and to be able to pull this one off is amazing,” added Miller-Uibo.
Jamaica rejoined the medal rush in the women’s 4×100 metres relay, with Briana Williams, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce and Shericka Jackson winning comfortably in 41.02 seconds.
That national record earned a third gold medal of the Games for Thompson-Herah, the champion in the 100 and 200 metres.
Williams provided the start for Jamaica, handing over to Thompson-Herah who dominated the backstretch before queuing up Fraser-Pryce, who left her zone with a huge lead on the field.
Jackson received the baton first and kept American Gabby Thomas at bay.
“I was just excited for the team to come out here and put on a show,” said Thompson-Herah. “The feeling is surreal to capture three golds and we got a national record. We are grateful.”
Fraser-Pryce, the team captain in Tokyo, identified safe baton passing as the key objective: “The main focus was getting the stick around. We knew once we got it around we would do very well.”
Jamaica had last won the sprint relay in 2004.
There was no such fortune for the Jamaica men’s team of Jevaughn Minzie, Julian Forte, Yohan Blake and Oblique Seville as they finished a disappointing fifth in their sprint relay in 37.84, as Italy took gold in 37.50.
When Blake passed to Seville on the final leg, the 20-year-old was in fourth, but he failed to gain any ground.
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago will have their final chance to win a medal on Saturday, when they do battle in the men’s 4×400 metres final – the last track event of the Games.
Deon Lendore, 200m finalist Jereem Richards, Machel Cedenio and Dwight St Hillaire produced the fourth fastest time of two minutes, 28.60 seconds in qualifying on Friday to book their spot in the final.
Lendore, Richards and Cedenio helped Trinidad beat the USA – fastest in Tokyo at 2.57.77 – to win the 2017 World Championships in London.
Jamaica were the seventh fastest qualifier for the eight-team final set for 9:50 pm (8:50 am Eastern Caribbean time).
In the women’s equivalent scheduled for ten minutes earlier, Jamaica – the second fastest qualifiers at 3:21.95 seconds – will join Cuba (3:24.04) as the Caribbean presence.
CMC
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