Melaine Walker wins women’s 400m hurdles

Melaine Walker of Jamaica has won the gold medal in the women’s 400m hurdles in an Olympic record time.

Walker won in 52.64 seconds in tonight’s final, with Sheena Tosta of the United States taking silver in 53.70 and Tasha Danvers of Britain third in 53.84.

The hurdles final was wide open with world record-holder Yulia Pechonkina skipping the Olympics because of a heart problem, two-time world champion Jana Rawlinson out injured and reigning Olympic champion Fani Halkia expelled after testing positive for a steroid.