Sada sets national record and reaches another World Championships final

Sada Williams raced to a new national record in the women’s 400 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, as she booked her spot in Wednesday’s final.

Running out of lane seven in the third of three semis earlier today, Williams ran a quick 250 metres, but appeared to turn off the burners on the home stretch, easing across the line in 49.58 seconds behind Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek.

The old national record of 49.75 seconds was set in July last year in the World Championships finals in Eugene, Oregon, when she won a bronze medal behind Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Marileidy Paulino of the Dominica Republic.

The former did not make it out of the first round, while Paulino qualified from the first heat with 49.54.

Williams enters the final with the third fastest time overall. The race is shaping up to be a fight among her, Paulino and Kaczmarek, who won the final heat in 49.50 seconds. (SAT)