Sada Williams became the first Barbadian woman to make an Olympic athletics final shortly after 3:01 p.m., Barbados time on Wednesday in Paris.
From miles away, thousands of Barbadians watched Semifinal 3 in the 400 metres with bated breath and the tenacious quarter-miler did not disappoint.
On the purple tracks at the Stade de France, Williams, 26, ran 49.89s in Semifinal 3, finishing third and sealing a spot in the final. Her time was the fifth-fastest on the day.
Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek was first in the heat in 49.45 seconds, while Amber Anning of Great Britain was second in 49.47 seconds.
Anning remained in front up until the 300m mark, only to be overtaken in the final quarter of the race. For Williams, less than half a second back of the heat winner at the finish, she battled back from fourth after 100.
At the quarter mark, she had run 12.29 seconds, behind Kaczmarek (12.14), Anning (12.02), and Jamaica’s Stacey-Ann Williams (12.27). By the midway point, she had overtaken Williams, posting 23.78 seconds to hold on to third.
Her run of 49.89 represented her sixth-fastest time ever, just ahead of her Commonwealth Games record of 49.90, and behind her season-best run of 49.80 in June at the Jamaica National Championships.
Looking back on her race, however, Williams opined that she could and would do better in the final.
“I don’t love it,” she conceded. “I definitely have to work on finishing a bit faster and stronger; I think that has always been my weakest point. I think that as long as I work on finishing, I believe I could medal,” she added.
Barbados Olympic Association President Sandra Osborne told Barbados TODAY that she was pleased with Williams’ performance.
“I’m sure every Barbadian was proud to witness Sada running her way into the finals of the women’s 400m,” maintained Osborne. “She looked comfortable among the best women quarter-milers in the world and I am sure she is executing her plan.
“We are looking forward to a very exciting final on Friday. Sada is one of our Olympic Solidarity Scholars and we are extremely satisfied with her performance and couldn’t be more proud of her,” Osborne pointed out.
Andrea Blackett, a two-time Olympian, national record-holder for the women’s 400m hurdles, and a fourth-place finisher at the 1999 World Championships, shared her delight with Barbados TODAY.
“It seems to me as though she is rounding into shape at exactly the right time, which is very exciting,” she asserted. “So I am really looking forward to seeing how she does in the final coming up later this week. I am so proud of her, carrying the Barbados flag in Paris, and we are all excited as Bajans to see what she does.”
Meanwhile, the nation’s only Olympic medallist, Obadele Thompson, was grateful that Williams has become just the second Barbadian to make an Olympic final since his 100m bronze medal at Sydney 2000. Currently doing commentary with SportsMax in Paris, Thompson said he is looking forward to something magical from his countrywoman.
“In Tokyo, Sada had the unfortunate distinction of being the fastest ever non-qualifier for the finals,” he recalled. “Since then, she has shown her championship pedigree. She is a podium level athlete at her best, and it’s great that she has given herself another chance to do that by making the finals.
“I have enjoyed the honour of being Barbados’ first and only Olympic medalist since we became independent. But I look forward to that changing. Hopefully, Sada can produce a performance for the ages and win another Olympic medal for Barbados.”
The final is scheduled for Friday, August 9 at 2 p.m. Williams, ranked fifth going in, is drawn in the innermost lane, Lane 2. She is only the seventh fastest of eight in the final this year, and her lifetime best is sixth fastest in the field.
That time, 49.58, was produced in the semifinals at the World Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023. In the final at the Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ, she ran 49.60 for her second global bronze.
Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic and Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek were both ahead of her on that occasion. Both are in the final in Paris.
With Ireland’s Rashidat Adeleke improving, Great Britain’s Amber Anning emerging, and 26-year-old world champion Salwa Eid Naser returning, Thompson told Barbados TODAY that this may be one of the most loaded 400m fields of all time.
However, he feels that Williams may just have an edge, and he pointed out that her coaches have shown that they can get her mentally and physically ready for the big occasion.
“The overall quality and depth of the women’s 400m is probably at its peak this season,” he expounded. But Sada and her team have proven that they know how to peak when it matters most.
“Like the men’s 400m final, I expect it will be a challenging and thrilling race. It’s full of women who have outstanding personal and season’s bests. Sada has not raced much this season, so I am hopeful that her legs are fresh and conditioned enough to bring her home in medal position.”
If Sada Williams is successful, she will be the first Bajan female Olympic medalist. For her part, she has taken stock of the challenge ahead.
“The final is on Friday,” she noted, after her semifinal run. “So I have a day to rest before I bring all my guts on the track. I have to go do recovery right now – that’s going to take over an hour. And then I got to go back to the village and eat and stuff. So it’s going to be a long night.” (TF)
