Sada Williams, the darling of local track and field, captured gold in the women’s 400 metres final at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Williams, 24, the World Championships bronze medallist, uncorked a new games record of 49.90 seconds to win not only the island’s first gold medal at these games, but the first in 24 years.
The national record holder finished ahead of England’s duo of Victoria Ohuruogu (50.72) and Jodie Williams (51.26).
Williams dismissed the record of 50.10 seconds set by Botswana’s Amantle Montsho at the 2010 edition in Delhi, India.
In doing so, she not only wrote her name in the Commonwealth books, but in local athletics lore. The historic run means she is only the second woman ever to win a medal for Barbados at this meet.
She has placed herself in lofty company with retired Olympian Andrea Blackett who won gold in the 400m hurdles in 1998, also in a games record.
Junelle Bromfield of Jamaica, the other Caribbean entrant, was fifth in 51.45.
Earlier, Jonathan Jones won bronze in the men’s race in 44.89 and Shane Brathwaite won silver in the 110m hurdles last week. (AGB)
