I just wanted the world title so much, but to break the world record again is fantastic.
DALILAH Muhammad delivers a record-breaking performance. AFP
DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Dalilah Muhammad of the United States powered to a new world record in a furious 400-meter hurdles battle with compatriot Sydney McLaughlin to claim World Championships gold medal.
The 2016 Olympic champion took the gold medal with a time of 52.16 seconds at the Khalifa Stadium, beating her own world mark of 52.20 set at the US Trials in Iowa in July.
McLaughlin, who finished just a whisker behind, took the silver medal with a time of 52.23 seconds while the bronze medals went to Rushell Clayton of Jamaica in a time of 53.74 seconds.
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“This means so much. I just wanted the world title so much, but to break the world record again is fantastic,” the 29-year-old New Yorker said.
“It feels good to have it all come together when it matters most. I didn’t even know who won the race. I was just looking to see who won and then I noticed when they said world record that I had broken it.”
It was another classic installment of Muhammad and McLaughlin’s nascent on-track rivalry.
McLaughlin, 20, had beaten Muhammad twice this year, winning the Diamond Trophy in Zurich in August as well as at the Bislett Games in Oslo in June.
But Muhammad, who had broken a 16-year-old world record with her victory at the trials in July, was in no mood to let McLaughlin prevail.
Drawn in Lane 6, Muhammad blazed away from the start, hurtling down the back straight at a blistering pace.
Coming off the final bend Muhammad had taken a narrow lead of a few meters and it seemed as if McLaughlin would reel her in.
But as the finish line beckoned Muhammad kicked hard and just held off the rapidly closing McLaughlin for the gold medal.
“I knew it was going to be a fast race going in but I wasn’t expecting a world record,” Muhammad said.
McLaughlin, meanwhile, consoled herself with a silver medal.
“I knew it would be fast, but I didn’t think it would be that fast,” she said.
“I did everything I could and at least US got one-two. I’m still young and every day here is a new experience. I am just tired.”
McLaughlin exploded onto the scene in 2016 when she qualified for the US team for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics as a 16-year-old.
She admits she is already thinking about next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
“The Olympics are always on my mind, but first, I have to get the season done and then I can get home and get ready for that.”
