Naser breaks 400m record in Ostrava
TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com
Salwa Eid Naser put in a sensational performance in Ostrava, breaking a 41-year-old meet record to win the women’s 400 metres at the 64th Golden Spike meeting – a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold-level event.
The Bahraini clocked 49.15 seconds to eclipse the previous mark of 49.67 set in 1983 by Tatana Kocembova. It was Naser’s seventh win of the season and her fourth at the distance, continuing a return to top-level form ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo later this year.
Statement Win
Naser’s dominance was clear from the outset. Running a smooth, composed race, she controlled the pace from lane five and opened a clear margin in the final 100 metres. American Lynna Irby-Jackson placed second in 49.82, while Dutch hurdler Femke Bol – making her 400m flat debut against Naser – was third in 49.98.
The win reinforces Naser’s standing as one of the top contenders in the 400m, even if the time was short of her season’s best of 48.67 and her personal best of 48.14.
Calm Execution, Confident Form
After the race, Naser admitted the record came as an unexpected bonus. “I wasn’t even aware of the meeting record,” she said. “My focus was simply on running relaxed and enjoying the moment. We’ve put in a lot of work this season, so getting the win feels really rewarding.”
Her measured tone reflects a season where consistency has been the goal. She has already claimed wins over multiple distances, including the 200m and 500m.
Strong Field
This was the first time Naser and Bol – two of the sport’s standout names – lined up in the same race. The presence of both athletes elevated the profile of the competition, and their post-race mutual respect showed a sense of shared ambition within the sport’s elite.
Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka (50.21) and Chile’s Martina Weil (50.52) completed the top five, while British sprinter Nicole Yeargin (51.53) and Czech athletes Lada Vondrova (52.00) and Barbora Malikova (52.08) rounded out the field.
Focus Turns to Tokyo Naser, now 27, is a former world champion and an Olympic silver-medallist. She’s set to be a central figure for Bahrain at September’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo – a stage where her experience and form could come together at just the right time.
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