World indoor champion Francena McCorory held off Olympic gold medallist Sanya Richards-Ross to win the women's 400m at the US athletics championships Saturday in a world leading 49.48 seconds.
McCorory, who earned the indoor world title in Poland in March, seized the lead through 300m and held on for the victory in a personal best.
Her time was a big advance on the previous best of the year of 50.03, set by Courtney Okolo on May 18 and matched by Richards-Ross in the semi-finals on Friday.
Richards-Ross was second in 49.66 and Natasha Hastings a distant third in 50.53.
"I just wanted to go out, execute my race and finish strong," McCorory said. "I'm just happy for the win."
The race was one of 10 finals on the fourth day of the US championships, which lack a little excitement this year since they don't serve as a qualifier for any major international championship.
Even so, the 100m hurdles final was a thriller, with Dawn Harper Nelson - who won Olympic gold in 2008 and silver behind Sally Pearson in 2012 - edging Queen Harrison by one one-hundredth of a second.
Harper-Nelson out-leaned Harrison to win in 12.55.
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