TOKYO (Reuters) -Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran the fastest women’s 400 metres in 40 years to claim world championship gold in 47.78 seconds on Thursday and complete her transition from the one-lap hurdles in emphatic style.

The American stormed through the Tokyo rain to add a first global gold in the flat 400m to the two Olympic and one world titles she won over the hurdles.

Olympic gold medallist and defending champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic finished second in 47.98 and became the third fastest woman of all time over the single lap.

Bronze went to Bahrain’s former world champion Salwa Eid Naser in 48.19.

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Ed Osmond)

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