Barbadian Sada Williams is through to the next round of the women’s 400 metres at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Competing in the fourth of six heats, she clocked 50.45 seconds to finish third and secure the automatic spot.
It was more like a training run for the Barbadian who ran well within her ability, at one point jogging in second place before easing to the line, passed by a fast-finishing Roxana Gomez (50.38) of Cuba.
World championships silver medallist Natalia Kaczmarek of Poland won the heat in 49.98.
Also reaching the next round are Jamaicans Stacey Ann Williams (50.16); Nickisha Pryce (50.02) and Junelle Bromfield (51.36).
Aliyah Abrams of Guyana will have to go to the repechage with her time of 51.55 seconds, but there was disappointment for former two-time Olympic Champion and former World Champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of The Bahamas who did not finish.
Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic leads all qualifiers with a time of 49.42 seconds.
