THIS WAS ONE of the most anticipated events at the Trials, featuring one of athletics’ most publicized stars, in the final race on the final day of competition. It did not disappoint.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had an abbreviated 2024 season so far, but it had been a productive one, with a fast 200 (22.07, a personal best) and 400 (48.75) marks, plus a 52.70 clocking for 400 over hurdles. Her most recent four finals at Hayward Field yielded three World hurdle records and the second-fastest flat 400 by a US woman.
Other significant entrants included 2023 World silver medalist Shamier Little, USC NCAA champions Anna Cockrell (2019, 2021) and Jasmine Jones (2024), former World Record-holder Dalilah Muhammad, and perhaps newcomer Rachel Glenn.
The heats were matter-of-fact affairs that eliminated only 7 of 34 starters. The gulf between SML’s very casual 53.07 and everyone else was obvious. Little looked sharp, considering that she’d already run three hard 400s only a few days earlier.
The first semi matched the previous two Olympic champions. SML passed hurdle 5 in 22.70, ahead of Muhammad’s 23.27, and the margin continued to grow. The result was a 52.48 world-lead for 2024, with a 54.16 season best for the 34-year-old 2021 silver medalist.
Glenn, already Paris-bound in the high jump, went out fast in semi 2 and was eventually overhauled by Little, but managed a PR 53.68 after nearly smacking the last two barriers.
Cockrell left nothing to chance in semi 3, running hard all the way to a PR 52.95, equal 8th on the US all-time list.
SML drew lane 5 for the final, with Glenn in 4 and Cockrell, Little, Jones and Muhammad in the outer lanes. The race brought a stunning conclusion to an already remarkable 8th day at Hayward.
Off quickest, SML reached hurdle 3 already 2/10s up on Cockrell, with the rest further back. Hurdling with perfect form and rhythm, the gap widened with each flight. At the fifth barrier (22.45), only Cockrell was relatively close, but her stagger advantage was quickly erased on the curve.
In an event in which every runner, regardless of skill level, slows during the race’s final stages, SML did not. Between hurdles 7 and 10, her 35m splits were 4.68, 4.68, 4.65. She powered the final 40m down the stretch in 5.22, and crossed the finish line at 50.65, erasing a World Record that many considered one of the best, and least approachable, in the books. Afterwards, she sat calmly on the track, reflecting on the impact of her achievement.
Cockrell finished 2nd in a PR 52.64, ahead of Jones (52.77, PR), Little (52.98), and Glenn (53.46, PR).
“I’m glad to know that the fitness is there,” said McLaughlin-Levrone. “I think we’re in a great spot ahead of Paris, and this was a real confidence boost.”
Having closed out a second Olympic Trials in a row with a record, McLaughlin-Levrone said, “I’d love to dip under 50 someday, and I’m always chipping away. There are so many different ways to run the race, and every time I’m on the track I’m trying new things. Today there was no time goal in mind, it was just about executing the hurdles. I wasn’t expecting that time, so it was a shock.”
WOMEN’S 400H RESULTS
Coming soon.