Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has just broken her own world record by running the 400-meter hurdles in 50.65 seconds. This stunning performance, achieved at the U.S. Olympic trials, marks the fifth time she has set a new record in this event. Four of these records have been accomplished at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field, where McLaughlin-Levrone first made her mark on the track and field community.
Her victory was an impressive feat, as she beat Anna Cockrell and Jasmine Jones by nearly two seconds each. However, it was not just any win – it was a redefinition of what is possible in this event. After years of stagnation with no progress on the world record for 400-meter hurdles from 2003 to 2019, American Dalilah Muhammad broke it twice in 2019. This inspired McLaughlin-Levrone to make key changes to her training regimen under Coach Bobby Kersee, which ultimately led to her success in breaking the world record again in 2021.
McLaughlin-Levrone expressed gratitude for the growth she has experienced both as an athlete and a person under Kersee’s guidance. Instead of focusing on a highly anticipated showdown with Femke Bol of the Netherlands, there is now speculation about when the 50-second mark will be broken in the 400-meter hurdles race. Hurdling legend Edwin Moses believes that it could happen soon, with the possibility of this mark being broken as soon as the Olympic final on August 8th takes place.
Overall, McLaughlin-Levrone’s incredible achievements are paving the way for a promising future for this event in track and field.
