World U20: Damaris Mutunga wins 400m silver in new national record

Damaris Mutunga in action duirng a past race[Courtesy]

Damaris Mutunga on Friday broke the national Under-20 championships record in 400m after clocking 51.71 to win silver at the ongoing 2022 World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.

After running her Personal Best of 52.60 in the semifinals, Mutunga came shy of the gold medal after finishing microseconds away behind American Yemi Mary John who timed a Personal Best of 51.50 in the win.

India's Rupal settled third in 51.85 while Norwegian Henriette Jaeger set a national record despite finishing fourth in 52.23.

Form Three students at St Martins Secondary School in Masinga, Machakos County in the process won Kenya's sixth medal at the event in the South American nation.

John was the only sub 52 seconds runner on the field before the race as Mutunga's 52.60 Personal Best in the heats pitted her as the third-fastest in the race.