Des Moines (United States), July 29: Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad shattered one of the longest standing records in women�s athletics with a superb display to clinch victory in the 400m hurdles at US Championships.
The 29-year-old powered home to win in 52.20sec at rain-soaked Drake Stadium on Sunday, obliterating the 16-year-old previous world record of 52.34sec set by Russia�s Yuliya Pechonkina in 2003.
�I�m just shocked,� Muhammad said. �My coach kept telling me (the record) was there. I just had to trust that and go for it.
�I wanted it so bad I knew I had to go out there and prove myself.�
Muhammad, the first American woman to win Olympic gold in the event at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games, later revealed she had an injury scare heading into this week�s event, suffering a concussion in a training run two weeks ago.
However, she revealed she had been quietly confident that she could threaten Pechonkina�s benchmark.
�I was hoping for it this weekend.
�I just trusted in what we�d been working for up to this point.�
Muhammad had set a furious pace over the opening 300m to lead coming into the home straight, and then pulled clear from Sydney McLaughlin, who finished second in 52.88 and Ashley Spencer (53.11).
Muhammad�s record-breaking display put the seal on the final events of the four-day meeting, the US trials for this year�s World Championships in Doha.
In other events, charismatic rising sprint star Noah Lyles made sure of his spot on the team for Qatar with a blistering win in the 200m.
Lyles, who warmed up in the blocks by copying mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor�s swishing arms routine, scorched to a win in 19.78sec, with 100m winner and rival Christian Coleman crossing second in 20.02. Ameer Webb was third in 20.45.
Lyles, who broke into a dance routine inspired by NBA star Kevin Durant after sealing the win, was neck-and-neck with Coleman with around 60 metres to go before pulling clear to take the tape.
�All I cared about today was the win,� Lyles, 22, said. �USA�s the hardest team to make and anything can happen over the three rounds.� � AFP
