McLaughlin breaks women’s 400m hurdles world record

EUGENE, OREGON – JUNE 27: Sydney McLaughlin celebrates winning the Women’s 400 Meters Hurdles Final during day ten of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 27, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. Patrick Smith/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Patrick Smith / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Sydney McLaughlin broke the women’s 400 meters hurdles world record with a time of 51.90 seconds in the final of the US Olympic athletics trials on Sunday.

The 21-year-old, who booked her spot at the Tokyo Games, seized the lead around the final bend and into the home stretch to power home and beat Rio Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad’s previous mark of 52.16.

“This season, working with my new coach and just my new support system, it’s truly just faith and trusting the process and I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said McLaughlin, who has the same coach as six-time Olympic gold medallist Allyson Felix, Bob Kersee.

McLaughlin is set for a showdown at the upcoming Games against Muhammad, 31, who finished second in 52.42 at Eugene, Oregon’s Hayward Field.

“It was just such a long season coming,” said Muhammad. “It’s going to be a battle in Tokyo, for sure.”

Anna Cockrell, 23, also booked her ticket to the Games, finishing third in 53.70.

RELATED STORIES