Busang Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana took the gold medal in the men’s 400-meter final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Thursday, setting a world-leading national record of 43.53 seconds on a rain-soaked track at National Stadium.

Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago finished in second place with a national record of 43.72, while Kebinatshipi’s compatriot Bayapo Ndori was third with a season best of 44.20.

“This is my first title and it feels crazy,” said Kebinatshipi. “Up until the semifinal I have been doubting myself. I had my struggles. But in the final, I had no fear. I wanted to go all out and see where I could go.

“I still have more than 10 years left in this game. I told myself to go out fast and do better than in the semi. The medal was just a bonus. Being able to run the national record and a world lead is fantastic.”

“Finally. I’ve been struggling for this since 2017,” said Richards. “It was a hard battle. It was an amazing race. To improve the national record in the world championships final was one of my dreams. Another goal was to grab the gold. Not this time, but I am satisfied with second.”

Japan’s Yuki Joseph Nakajima was sixth with a time of 44.62.

Just reaching the final was an achievement for Nakajima, who set a Japanese national record of 44.44 with his run in the first round. He previously made the semifinals at the last world championships in Budapest in 2023.

Nakajima went into the final with the slowest personal and seasonal bests in the eight-man field, but powered through to finish ahead of Jacory Patterson of the United States and Botswana’s Lee Bhekempilo Eppie.

“I really wanted to win a medal,” Nakajima said. “It was such a big chance that I’d finally grabbed. In this fight at the top of the world, I wanted to deliver the best performance, one I could really show to everyone watching.

“But a gap opened up, and I just didn’t have enough strength. In the end I managed to close it up a little and finish sixth, but I really got beaten hard in the first half, and from there I lost ... that’s frustrating.”