The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IT WAS like poetry in motion for Shaunae Miller as she pulled away from the field and easily sped to the world’s leading time of 2016 - and a personal best - of 49.55 seconds to win the London Diamond League women’s 400 metres on Friday at the London Olympic Stadium.

In the meet that was dubbed the “London Anniversary Games”, marking four years since the Olympic Games was held there, Miller opened the gap to her pursuers even wider as she surged to the finish line, leaving her nearest rival, Stephanie Ann McPherson from Jamaica, a distant second in 50.40. American Natasha Hastings was third in 50.49.

“I just give God thanks for giving me the opportunity,” Miller told The Tribune. “Coming out this time with a world leading and a pb, it’s an amazing feeling. One of my coaches was down here with me and everything went very smooth. We’re trying a few new race models like I said earlier in the season, but we’re still trying to figure out exactly what we are going to do.

“But the race felt fine, it felt really well. I felt like I executed really well. But we still played around with it a bit, but we still have more in the tank for Rio.” The 2016 Olympic Games are scheduled for August 5 to 21 in Brazil.

Improving on her previous personal best of 49.67 that she ran in Beijing, China, last year to claim the silver medal behind American Allyson Felix, Miller said she is eager to get back to training for Rio, where her ultimate goal is to go after the gold medal.

In order to claim that elusive Olympic medal, the 22-year-old acknowledges that she will have to at least break Tonique Williams’ national record of 49.07 that she set in Berlin, Germany, on September 12, 2004. She said whatever it takes, she is going to be prepared to do it.

It signifies that Miller will definitely be running the 400m in Rio and may not pursue the 200m or go for the double. Nor did she comment on her availability for the women’s 4 x 400m relay after the team of Shaquania Dorsett, Carmeisha Cox, Christine Amertil and Lanece Clarke were awarded the 16th and final spot by the IAAF after upholding the doping ban on Russia.