Sydney McLaughlin dominates 400m hurdles, breaks world record

Gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin of the U.S. celebrates after winning the women’s 400 metres hurdles final and setting a new world record in the World Athletics Championships on July 22, 2022. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

EUGENE, Oregon—A dominant Sydney McLaughlin broke her own world record to win the women’s 400 meters hurdles final at the World Championships on Friday after the American powered home in 50.68 seconds.

The Olympic champion had the lead well before the back turn and finished several meters clear of silver medalist Femke Bol (52.27) of the Netherlands and American Dalilah Muhammad (53.13)in Eugene, Oregon.

The 22-year-old slashed 0.73 seconds off her previous mark of 51.41 set at the same springy, speedy Hayward Field last month, becoming the first woman to run under 51 seconds in the event.

“It’s unreal,” she told a reporter on the track after the race, having collected her first individual World Championships title.

“I’m so thankful to (God), my coach, my team… it’s all of us.”

It was the sixth time in three years that the world record has been broken, after Russian Yulia Pechonkina’s mark had stood for 16 years.

Much of the hype heading into the final had focused on McLaughlin’s rivalry with 2019 champion Muhammad but the 32-year-old was well beaten.

It was the first world record broken at this year’s World Championships, the first on U.S. soil, and a much-needed boost for the American women, who have excelled in the field events but had been shut out on the track.