In a thrilling showcase of speed and determination, Haitian sprinter Wadeline Venlogh (formerly known as Wadeline Jonathas when competing for Team USA) delivered a stunning performance in the women’s 400m preliminaries at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
On September 14, Venlogh clocked an outstanding 49.91 seconds, placing second in her heat and shattering her own Haitian national record of 50.07, set just last year in 2024.
Venlogh, 27, was born in Haiti and raised in Massachusetts, USA. After a decorated career with Team USA—including Olympic gold in the 4x400m relay at Tokyo 2020, a World Championships bronze in 2022, and multiple NCAA titles with the University of South Carolina—she made the bold decision in 2024 to represent her birth nation on the global stage.
Her personal best of 49.60 seconds, set in 2019 under the U.S. flag, remains a career highlight, but her latest achievement marks a historic moment for Haitian athletics. Running under Haiti’s banner, Venlogh continues to prove her resilience and evolution as a world-class competitor.
With this performance, Venlogh advances to the semifinals, where she will face off against top contenders Marileidy Paulino, Britton Butler, and Natalia Bukowiecka in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive 400m showdowns of the championships.
Fans and analysts alike are now buzzing about her medal prospects, especially after she captured silver in the 400m at the 2025 NACAC Championships earlier this season.
For Haiti, Venlogh’s success represents more than just a personal milestone—it signals the rise of a new era in Haitian track and field.
