Muhammad wins 400m women’s hurdles gold for US

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 19 (IANS) Dalilah Muhammad, the 2013 World Championships silver medalist, won the 100th medal for the US Olympic team at the Rio Olympics after finishing first in the women's 400-metre hurdles final in 53.13 seconds.

Denmark's Sara Petterson took silver with a new national record of 53.55 seconds ahead of American Ashley Spencer (53.72) while Czech Republic's Zuzanna Hejnova, two-time world champion and the 2012 London silver medalist, finished off the podium with 53.92 seconds on Thursday, Efe news reported.

Muhammad's world-leading time of 52.88 was the fastest running time in the discipline since 2013.

Muhammad started in the final as a favourite to clinch gold with fellow American Ashley Spencer who began competing hurdles full-time in this year.