Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Books World Championships Spot with 400m Win at US Trials
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone secured her place at the upcoming World Championships by clinching victory in the women’s 400m final at the US Trials held at Hayward Field in Eugene. The 25-year-old clocked a brilliant 48.90 seconds, proving her mettle after switching from her usual 400m hurdles to the flat 400m event.
A two-time Olympic champion in the 400m hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone decided to take on a fresh challenge this season by shifting to the 400m sprint. Despite it not being her preferred event, she impressed spectators and silenced doubters with her performance.
Speaking about her decision, she said, “Going into Pre (Prefontaine Classic), we had an idea to focus on the 400. It’s not as comfortable, but I wanted to challenge myself. This year felt like the right time to step outside my comfort zone and try something different.”
She confirmed that she won’t be attempting to qualify in the 400m hurdles through the upcoming Diamond League finals. “We’ll focus solely on the 400m. It’s already a tough event with strong competition, and I want to give it my full effort,” she added.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s dominance in the 400m hurdles is well known—she broke the 52-second barrier in 2021 and went under 51 seconds a year later. She even broke her own world record during the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, she clarified that she’s not chasing any particular records in the flat 400m at this point.
“People talk about the American record, and that’ll happen in its own time. This event has taught me patience,” she reflected. “I’m learning about myself and this event, and every day I’m just trying to improve and adjust to a race that’s still unfamiliar to me.”
In Sunday’s race, McLaughlin-Levrone took a commanding lead within the first 200 metres and maintained her dominance through the final stretch. Isabella Whittaker finished second with a time of 49.59 seconds, while Aaliyah Butler came third in 49.91 seconds.
With this win, McLaughlin-Levrone now looks set to be a strong medal contender in the 400m at the upcoming World Championships.
