Naser blazes to 400m victory

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser lit up the National Stadium on Saturday night with a blistering victory in the women’s 400 metres, clocking a world-leading 48.67 seconds at the Grand Slam Track meet.

The 26-yearold, who famously won gold at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha with a staggering 48.14 — the third-fastest time ever — once again showed she remains one of the sport’s most electrifying talents. Her winning performance on day two of the meet saw her edge out American Gabrielle Thomas, who ran a personal best 49.14 to take second place, while Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic settled for third in 49.35.

Dominant From the Start

Naser seized control of the race early, surging ahead after the opening 150 metres and never looking back. Her performance set a new stadium record and marked the fastest 400m ever recorded on Jamaican soil by a female athlete.

In a long-awaited breakthrough, Naser also managed to defeat her training partner Paulino for the first time in ten encounters — a moment she savoured.

“I am extremely proud of my achievement, and I feel very good,” said Naser following her emphatic win. “This is my third-fastest ever and the best in only my second race of the season.”

Building Towards World Glory

Just a week earlier, Naser had opened her 2025 campaign in Bayaguana, Dominican Republic, with a strong 48.94 performance in the 400m, along with a swift 22.45 in the 200m. Saturday’s result has now firmly installed her as a front-runner for the Tokyo World Championships later this year.

“My body felt good, and I think I am approaching the same shape I was in when I ran that fast time in Doha,” she said. “Going forward, I just want to stay healthy. Once I do that, I think I can go sub-48 seconds — but I’m not putting any pressure on myself.”

Lasting Impression Naser, who was born in Nigeria but competes for Bahrain, also expressed her delight at racing in Jamaica for the first time. “I feel very comfortable competing here in Jamaica, as the people here are like me, and the atmosphere was lovely,” said the silver medallist from last year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

With five months to go before the World Championships, Salwa Eid Naser has sent a powerful mes-sage to her rivals: she is back, in peak form, and ready to chase history once again.