Tokyo, Sep 18 (IANS) Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States highlighted the day by smashing the longest-standing event record at the World Athletics Championships here on Thursday, while the women’s triple jump final saw Hernandez dethrone four-time world champion and Olympic titleholder Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela.

McLaughlin-Levrone, the two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion, stormed to victory in the women’s 400m final in 47.78 seconds, trimming 0.21s off the previous record of 47.99s set by Jarmila Kratochvilova of Czechoslovakia at the inaugural World Championships in 1983.

“I knew there were a lot of people doubting me with making the switch from 400 meters hurdles to the flat 400m, but ultimately, I had faith in my training,” said the 26-year-old. “We will need to talk about the schedule for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Maybe I could do both 400m and 400m hurdles.”

Reigning Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic clocked a national record of 47.98 for silver, while Bahrain’s former world champion Salwa Eid Naser took bronze in a season’s best 48.19, reports Xinhua.

Botswana celebrated in the men’s 400m final as 21-year-old Collen Kebinatshipi, a silver medallist in the 4x400m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics, clocked a world-leading 43.53 seconds to win his first world title.

Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago took silver in 43.72 seconds in a new national record time, while Kebinatshipi’s compatriot Bayapo Ndori took bronze in a season’s best 44.20s.

“This is my first title, and it feels crazy,” said Kebinatshipi. “Having three athletes from Botswana running this final shows we are growing. We are really improving as Botswana and as Africa.”

The women’s triple jump final saw Hernandez dethrone Venezuela’s Rojas. The 23-year-old Cuban leapt a world-leading 14.94m on her third attempt to seal the title.

Thea LaFond of Dominica set a national record of 14.89m to take silver, marking her country’s first-ever medal in the event, while Rojas settled for bronze with 14.76m.

Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi stormed to victory in the men’s 400-meter final at the World Athletics Championships here on Thursday. The 21-year-old, who helped Botswana to a silver medal in the 4x400m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, delivered a powerful finish to secure his first individual world title.

Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago claimed silver in 43.72 seconds, setting a new national record. Bayapo Ndori, also from Botswana, finished third in a season’s best 44.20 seconds to secure the bronze medal.

–IANS

bsk/