Berlin, Germany:

Jamaica's Shericka Williams posted a personal-best 49.32 seconds yesterday to take silver in the women's 400 metres final at the 12th World Championships in Berlin.

It was the 23-year-old's second silver at a major championships in 12 months, following her surprise second place at the Beijing Games last year.

Williams posted her second personal- best time in consecutive rounds. Her time in the final was just two-hundredths of a second outside the national record, 49.30, held since July 2002 by Lorraine Fenton. She had won her semi-final in 49.51.

Jamaican-born American Sanya Richards won the gold in a world leading 49.00, while bronze went to Russia's Antonina Krivoshapka in 49.71.

Another Jamaican, Novlene Williams-Mills, was fourth in a season-best 49.77.

Jamaica's medal tally at the championships now stands at five - two gold, two silver and a bronze. They are second on the medals table behind the United States with three gold, two silver and two bronze. Russia come next, also with seven - two gold, one silver and four bronze.

Williams was happy to win another medal at the world level.

"I feel good. To come out there with a personal best, that's very good. I did exactly what my coach (Stephen Francis) said and it worked."

The Jamaican had high praise for the gold medallist.

"I am very happy for Sanya (Richards), she's a very good athlete and I congratulate her."

400m Hurdles

Danny McFarlane finished out of the medals in the men's 400 metres hurdles final, placing sixth in 48.65 seconds.

The event was won by defending champion Kerron Clement of the United States in a world-leading 47.91, with Puerto Rico's Javier Culson second in 48.09. Another American, Bershawn Jackson, was third in 48.23.

Trinidad and Tobago's 17-year-old Jehue Gordon ran a gallant race and was just edged for the bronze by Jackson.

McFarlane said running in lane one proved to be very difficult.

"Lane one was tougher than I thought. I got going and thought I was in the race but after that ... the funny thing is that I do not feel tired. But it feels good to reach another final," the 37-year-old said.

There was a scare in the Jamaican camp following the second semi-final of the women's 400 metres hurdles.

Spencer reinstated

Kaliese Spencer won in 54.37 seconds and was first disqualified under IAAF Rule 168.7, then reinstated. The rule deals with correct movement of the trail leg, jumping a hurdle not in the athlete's lane and cases where, in the opinion of the officials, the athlete has deliberately hit down the hurdle.

According to an official of the Jamaican camp, an inquiry was made by their delegation following the posting of the disqualification. Before a decision could be taken on this latter move, Spencer was declared the official winner of the race.

Strong statement

In the same event, Olympic champion Melaine Walker made a strong statement with a season best 53.36-second run in semi-final one. The third semi-final heat was won by hot gold medal favourite, American Lashinda Demus, in 54.25 seconds.

Walker said she wanted to get her hurdling completely right so she can correct any mistakes ahead of the final. She said she will be ready to run in the final.

"I never can tell how fast I can go. Normally, I race based on how the other individuals in the race go. If they go fast enough and I still have enough strength at the end, I will come through fighting."

The third semi-finalist, Nickiesha Wilson, placed third in her semi-final and failed to advance. The final is tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. here, 1:15 p.m. in Jamaica.