The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BEIJING, China — Shaunae Miller, with a stripe of gold added to her hair to help signal her intent to win the gold, had one of her defining moments yesterday as she coasted to an easy victory in the first round of the women’s 400 metres at the 15th IAAF World Championships.

Dispelling any doubts about whether or not she was healthy coming into the championships after she suffered a slight injury in her last 200 metres in a Grand Prix meet in Monaco last month, Miller was so far ahead of her rivals that she had sufficient time to check everybody around her before she stopped the clock in 50.53 seconds.

“I feel so thankful to God for it. I know I couldn’t do it without him, but it felt really good,” she said. “I didn’t expect the time to be so fast, but it felt smooth and easy.

“I feel good right now. Things have gotten better and I’m ready to give everybody a run for their money.”

She was so far ahead of everybody that her nearest rival was Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills, who trailed in 51.07. Only four other competitors, including Jamaica’s Stephanie Ann McPherson with the fastest qualifying time of 50.34, ran faster.

“Everybody says it’s a fast track, so I’m expecting a lot from it,” Miller added.

Today, the expectations continue for Miller as she seeks her first global medal at the senior outdoors to add to her bronze at the World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland, in 2014 and the IAAF World Junior and Youth Championship gold in 2010 in Moncton, Canada, and in 2011 in Lille, France, respectively.

The 21-year-old will run out of lane six in the semi-final today next to Jamaican Christine Day in five and Joyce Zakary, of Kenya, in seven.

The first two finishers in each of the three heats and the next two fastest finishers will advance to the final on Thursday.

“I know that the rounds are going to be very hard, but I’m just looking forward to putting down some fast times and getting through to the final.”

The stripe of gold that is attached to the bottom of her hair was not just a fashion statement, Miller said. It gives people an indication of her desire to go after the gold.

“I just wanted to make it more interesting,” she said.

Having opted not to compete in the 200 metres where she could have also been in the mix for a medal, possibly not the gold, Miller said from the beginning of the season she was preparing for the journey she’s on right now and she’s “excited about the choice I made. I’m just ready to compete.”

No doubt, there are still some talented competitors left, including American Allyson Felix, who also moved up this year to run the 400 metres here. But Miller said she’s not concerned about who is in the mix.

“Everyone is going to bring their A game so I’m going to be ready,” she said.