American Sydney McLaughlin has destroyed the world record in the 400m hurdles at the World Championships in Oregon, with a time of 50.68.
Key points:
- McLaughlin had set three of the last four world records in the 400 m hurdles, breaking his own record in that race.
- The time of 50.68 was the 19th fastest women’s 400m of the year, with or without hurdles.
- The American received a $100,000 bonus for breaking the record during the championships
The fastest time for a women’s 400m race this year is 49.11, with no hurdles, making McLaughlin the 19th fastest female runner over that distance in 2022 with or without hurdles.
The 22-year-old obliterated the field by setting the first world record of these championships. More impressively, it marked the fourth consecutive major race in which he has bettered the mark.
“It’s unreal,” McLaughlin said in the post-race interview at the track.
Femke Bol of the Netherlands finished second in 52.27, a difference of 1.59 seconds, and defending world champion Dalilah Muhammad finished third in 53.13, a time that would have won the race just seven years ago.
After the medal ceremony, world athletics president Seb Coe presented McLaughlin with a check for $100,000, the bonus for anyone who sets a world record at this meet.
“Honestly, I just wanted to run and go,” he said.
“That last 100 really hurt.”
Sydney McLaughlin blew the field away with a run to remember. (Getty Images: Patrick Smith)
The 400 hurdles record had sat for 16 years when Muhammad lowered it to 52.20 at the 2019 US championships in Iowa.
Since then, either McLaughlin or Muhammad have broken it at every major meet: Muhammad at the 2019 worlds (52.16), then McLaughlin at last year’s Olympic trials (51.90), the Olympics ( 51.46), this year’s nationals (51.41) and now, this.
McLaughlin has set three of those four records on this same track at Hayward Stadium. For now, she’s turned what was once the best one-on-one matchup in sports — her vs. Muhammad — into a one-woman show.
ABC/AP