Miller sets world leading time in 400m

GAINSVILLE, Florida, CMC – Bahamian Shaunae Miller ran the fastest time in the world this year in the women’s 400 metres, when she captured the event in a personal best at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic here Friday.

The 21-year-old, a former World Youth and World Junior champion, clocked 50.17 seconds to finish ahead of Americans Destinee Gause (52.01) and Robin Reynolds (52.26).

Miller’s previous best was 50.70 two years ago.

She was joined in winners’ row by Trinidadian Keston Bledman who captured the 100 metres in a time of 10.01 seconds, while Kelly-Ann Baptiste, also from Trinidad and Tobago, nailed the women’s equivalent in a time of 10.98 seconds.

Bledman, an Olympic relay medallist, beat out a challenge from the American duo of Marvin Bracy and Ronnie Baker who finished second and third respectively, but were both clocked at 10.11 seconds.

Baptiste, a World Championship 100m bronze medallist four years ago, got the better of American Shalonda Solomon who finished second in 11.06 and Jamaican Simone Facey who was third in 11.15.