Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Salwa Eid Naser, Marileidy Paulino Set 400m Stage as Kenyan Medal Hopes Stay Alive

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of United States of America opened her assault on the women’s 400m crown in Tokyo with a performance that looked more like a relaxed training run than a high-stakes World Championship heat.

The Olympic champion and 400m hurdles world record holder cruised to a commanding victory in Heat 3, clocking 49.41 seconds – the fastest time across all six heats.

McLaughlin-Levrone’s fluid stride and seemingly effortless dominance reminded everyone why her personal best of 48.74 seconds, set earlier this season, places her within touching distance of Marita Koch’s legendary 47.60-second world record.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

Kenya’s own Mercy Oketch gave her fans plenty to cheer about, storming to third place in Heat 3 with a strong 50.76s finish to automatically qualify for the semifinals.

Oketch ran an intelligent race, staying patient on the back straight before producing a fierce final 100m to secure the crucial third spot.

Heat 5 saw Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain, the 2019 world champion, deliver a masterclass in speed, clocking 49.13 seconds – the second-fastest time overall – to underline her status as one of the sport’s biggest threats.

Jamaica’s Stacey-Ann Williams followed with a personal best 49.59s, hinting that she could be a dark horse in the medal hunt.

Meanwhile, Marileidy Paulino, the reigning world champion and third-fastest woman in history, controlled Heat 6 with an authoritative 49.85s victory.

Britain’s Amber Anning also impressed, running 49.96s to book her semifinal place, while Egypt’s Bassant Hemida broke the national record with a 50.36s performance, ensuring she too will feature in the next round.

The opening heat saw the Netherlands’ Lieke Klaver kick things off in style, taking victory in 50.32s. USA’s Isabella Whittaker (50.82) and Jamaica’s Dejanea Oakley (51.07) rounded out the automatic qualifiers.

Heat 2 was headlined by Haiti’s Wadeline Venlogh, who produced a brilliant 49.91s run, followed closely by Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka (50.16) and USA’s Aaliyah Butler (50.44).

Kenya’s sprint fans will have all eyes on Oketch, whose progression to the semis represents a chance to inspire a new generation of quarter-milers in the country.

The women’s 400m has long been dominated by nations with deep sprinting traditions, but Oketch’s presence in this mix signals Kenya’s growing strength beyond the middle distances.