Barbadian quarter-miler Sada Williams is taking a measured approach to her 2025 season, choosing patience over panic after finishing third in the women’s 400m at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston on Saturday night.
Williams, a two-time World Championship bronze medallist, clocked 51.65 seconds in a race won by the USA’s Lynna Irby-Jackson in 50.23. Jamaica’s Stacey-Ann Williams placed second in 50.56.
Though disappointed with the time, Williams said she is trusting the long-term plan.
“Oh my God, I feel like it’s going so slow,” she said after the race. “But I don’t know—maybe I take that as a positive thing because the season is so long. World Champs are still ahead, right? So we’re trying to be positive about the times—about all the 51s I’m currently running. But I really wanted to run a 50-point here tonight.”
The performance in Kingston was her fourth consecutive sub-52 clocking this year. Williams opened her 2025 campaign on April 19 at Velocity Fest 17, winning in 51.27. She followed that with a fourth-place finish in 51.32 at the Doha Diamond League on May 16. A week later, she ran 51.71 to win the JAAA WA Preparation Meet in Kingston before Saturday’s 51.65.
Williams admitted her execution on the night wasn’t as sharp as it needed to be, especially over the final half of the race.
“When I watched the replay after I crossed the line, I felt as though I wasn’t as aggressive from the 200 as I usually am,” she noted. “So I think that’s possibly where my execution wasn’t as good as it usually is.”
After finishing seventh in the 400m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Williams acknowledged that the experience has been a motivating force in 2025. But she’s also taking care not to let it weigh her down.
“It is [a motivating factor], definitely. But at the same time, I’m trying not to set too many expectations on myself—just so I don’t put unnecessary pressure on myself. So I’m just taking it race by race.”
As she works her way through the early stages of the season, Williams remains confident in her setup and the people guiding her and her trust in her coach.
“For sure,” Williams replied with a smile.
While Saturday night didn’t deliver the breakthrough she had hoped for, the consistency in her performances suggests that a major result could be around the corner. With a measured mindset and proven pedigree, Sada Williams is once again positioning herself as a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.