AP Foto/Bernat Armangue
Tokyo.- Dominican runner Marileidy Paulino finished second in the Tokyo final, where American star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone delivered a historic performance. With a blazing 47.78 seconds, McLaughlin secured the gold, setting both a championship and U.S. national record, while also achieving the second-fastest time ever recorded in the event.
The race was one for the history books. For the first time since 1985, two athletes completed the 400m in under 48 seconds. Paulino pushed herself to the limit on the rain-soaked track, crossing the finish line in 47.98 seconds. Although she couldn’t surpass McLaughlin, her effort set a Dominican national record and became the third-fastest time in history, cementing her place among the sport’s all-time greats.
The bronze medal went to Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain, who clocked 48.19, her best mark of the season, edging out Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka, who finished in 49.27. The electrifying Tokyo final not only highlighted McLaughlin’s dominance but also confirmed Paulino’s consistency at the highest level of world athletics.
