PARIS, (Reuters) – Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic opened her assault on the Olympic women’s 400 metres title, clocking the quickest time of yesterday’s preliminary round in near-perfect conditions at Stade de France.
The reigning world champion and silver medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics crossed the finish line in 49.42 seconds to win her heat by more than a second.
Defending champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas pulled up midway through the race with an apparent injury and walked the remainder of the way.
She was given a time of 2:22.29, and is listed among competitors in Tuesday’s repechage, which is a second chance for athletes who do not clinch automatic qualifying spots.
Britain’s Amber Anning ran 49.68 for the second fastest time of the 16 runners who move into Wednesday’s semi-finals, while 2019 world champion Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain was third quickest at 49.91.
“The objective was to go through to the next phase and I got a good time in spite of those last 100 metres when I slowed my pace,” Paulino said.
“It’s the best track. And the crowd was amazing. You could clearly see the difference between Tokyo (2020 Olympics, held with no fans due to COVID-19) and Paris.
“The crowd, for some athletes, having them here helps, and for some it brings more pressure.”
If Miller-Uibo is able to race in the repechage, she would not be the first athlete grateful for a second chance. American Freddie Crittenden moved gingerly through his 110 metres hurdles opener with an aggravated muscle problem, saying his plan was to maintain his health and make it to the next round.
Runners who do not clinch automatic berths in the 100/110 hurdles, 200, 400, 400 hurdles, 800 and 1,500 advance to a repechage, which is making its Olympic debut in Paris.
Paulino, a lieutenant in the Dominican air force and a multi-medallist in the Dominican Republic Military Games, also led her nation to gold in the 4x400m mixed relay at the 2022 world championships, famously passing her idol Allyson Felix en route to victory.
Her 400m silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics was a first-ever individual athletics medal for a woman from the Dominican Republic, and she was also part of the silver medal-winning mixed relay team in that Games.
“I can’t rule anyone out,” she said. “I can never do that. But I do believe and trust myself, and I’m going for that gold.
“For me, my strongest rival is the time. I have worked so hard and I believe in myself a lot.”
The women’s 400m final is on Friday.
