Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone breaks 400 meter hurdles world record for the fifth time

CNN
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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke the world record in the 400-meter hurdles for the fifth time on Sunday, clocking 50.65 seconds at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

The 24-year-old shaved 0.03 seconds off her previous record, also set two years ago at Eugene’s Hayward Field, to earn a spot on the U.S. team for the Paris Olympics.

McLaughlin-Levrone was in lane five and led the race by 250 meters and had built up a huge lead as she raced down the home straight.

She finished almost two seconds ahead of Anna Cockrell in second place, with a look of disbelief on her face as she crossed the line and caught her breath.

“I honestly didn’t expect that moment,” McLaughlin-Levrone later told reporters, adding: “Knowing that there’s more and more that needs to be resolved is just a confidence booster heading into Paris.”

Despite only racing the 400m hurdles once this year prior to the US trials, McLaughlin-Levrone cruised through her heats en route to Sunday’s final.

She goes to the Olympic Games in Paris as one of the stars of the American team and as the big favorite to defend her title from three years ago. Dutch athlete Femke Bol will probably provide the strongest competition.

Cockrell and Jasmine Jones rounded out the podium at the U.S. trials with personal bests of 52.64 and 52.77, qualifying for the Paris Olympics.

“I would love to get under 50 at some point,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “I don’t know if that’s this year or next year. Just always keep tweaking, see what’s possible and keep improving the race.

“There are so many different ways to do it and I feel like every time I’m on the court I’m trying to figure out what’s the best way.”

McLaughlin-Levrone now owns seven of the top ten fastest times in 400-meter hurdles history, while four of her five world records were set at Hayward Field.

In the men’s event, Rai Benjamin set a trial record of 46.46, looking to improve on the silver medal he won at the Tokyo Olympics behind Norway’s Karsten Warholm. CJ Allen and Trevor Bassitt were also on the team after finishing second and third respectively.