The Most Dominant Women’s 400m USA Obliterates the Field With a Devastating Final Drive

The Most Dominant Women’s 400m USA Obliterates the Field With a Devastating Final Drive

The women’s 400 meters delivered one of the most compelling and one-sided spectacles of the competition, combining tactical discipline, individual brilliance, and a decisive final phase that completely reshaped the race. From the moment the athletes settled into their lanes, it was clear that this would be a contest between experience and ambition, with several competitors trying to test the limits of their current form.

Running from the outside lane was Alysia Smith of Germany, an athlete whose recent career trajectory has been marked by experimentation. Smith has attempted to transition toward the 800 meters, but her personal best of 2:05 has proven insufficient at the international level. Those efforts yielded limited results, and this race appeared to signal a return to her natural territory — the 400 meters — where she has long been a reliable contributor to Germany’s 4×400 relay squads. While her opening 200 meters were controlled and technically sound, Smith lacked the aggressive acceleration needed to stay in contact with the leaders as the race unfolded.

In the middle lanes, the American athlete asserted control early. The USA representative displayed textbook race execution, maintaining relaxed form through the first curve and hitting the back straight with visible authority. Unlike many competitors who expended too much energy too early, the American runner remained composed, saving her most devastating weapon for the final 120 meters.