DOHA — Dalilah Muhammad of the United States set a new world record as she powered to victory in the 400 meters hurdles at the World Championships here Friday.

Olympic champion Muhammad took gold with a time of 52.16 seconds at the Khalifa Stadium, bettering her own world record of 52.20 set at the US Trials in Iowa in July.

Sydney McLaughlin of the United States took silver with a time of 52.23 while the bronze medal went to Rushell Clayton of Jamaica in a time of 53.74.

Muhammad, the Olympic champion went out hard, but so too did compatriot McLaughlin and they were level through the first 200m.

Muhammad began to edge ahead of her teammate on the top bend and entered the straight with a lead of a couple of metres, but McLaughlin started to come back during the final 100 meters.

At one point it seemed as though Muhammad would be caught, but she held on to win in 52.16. McLaughlin finished second in a personal best of 52.23, moving to second on the world all-time list. Clayton was third with a personal best of 53.74.

Muhammad's performance earns her a $60,000 bonus as part of the world record program supported by QNB. — AFP