Sada Williams to headline track and field championships

Double world bronze medalist and Commonwealth Games champion Sada Williams headlines a star-studded list of the island’s top athletes set to compete at the National Track and Field Championships this weekend.

Barbados’ biggest medal hopeful for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games has already qualified for the world’s biggest sporting event and will contest the women’s 400-metre event at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.

So far for the season, the top quarter miler is yet to dip under 50 seconds with five major races under her belt and a season’s best of 50.71 clocked last month.

She has been a shadow of the athlete who has wowed athletics enthusiasts with her stellar performances of the past and Barbadians will be hoping that Williams, coached by Jamaican legend Stephen Francis will peak at the right time.

Back in 2022 , she created history by winning bronze at the World Athletics Champions in Oregon in 49.75 seconds. Williams also finished third in the Diamond League final in 49.98 seconds. She was the first Barbadian woman to win a global medal in July and in August 2022. Williams captured gold in the 400 metres at the Commonwealth Games and became the first woman to dip under 50 seconds at the meet in a championship record time of 49.90 seconds.

Last year, Williams also won gold in the 400 metres at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary with a new personal best and record time of 49.58 seconds.

Also confirmed for the Barbados nationals are Olympians Mario Burke and Tristan Evelyn who are expected to contest the men’s and women’s 100 metre events respectively.

Hurdlers Tia-Adana Belle and Raheem Griffith are also among the big names, along with quarter miler Desean Boyce and former CARIFTA sprinters Julian Forde and Kishawna Niles.

CARIFTA Games gold medalist Layla Haynes and Hannah Connell as well as national javelin record holder Kayla Thorpe are also set to compete.

(BT)