By Elias Esquivel, University of Oregon SOJC Track Bureau
Everyone inside Hayward Field during the women’s 400-meter hurdle final at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 on Friday night was there for one thing:
Sydney McLaughlin.
All eyes were on the 22-year-old phenom. The crowd reached a deafening roar as she was introduced. The track and field world had been buzzing all week on whether McLaughlin could topple her world record, and the time to find out had finally arrived as the main event of Day Eight.
McLaughlin, the Olympic gold medalist, rounded the curve with the gold already secured.
However, it was never a question if anyone would beat her, but if McLaughlin could beat herself.
The Hayward Field crowd came alive as she approached the home stretch, reaching a historic volume as she crossed the line. The time flashed: 50.68 seconds.
50.68. Read that again.
She had done it. In the second time in less than a month, McLaughlin shattered her own world record, improving upon her previous time by a stupendous .73. She became the first woman in history to break the 51-second barrier, and her time would’ve placed seventh in the open 400.
McLaughlin sat down in her lane, with her knees to her chest, basking in the adulation pouring down from the thousands in attendance. First across the line, but last off the track. She was alone, much like she’s been her whole career.
“I was really just taking a moment to enjoy what had taken place,” said McLaughlin. “So many times the race goes by and you forget what happens. I really just wanted to sit there for a moment and soak it all in.”
McLaughlin never trailed. The United States’ Dalilah Muhammad had a strong start out the blocks, reaching the backstretch second, and trailing her compatriot by only .13. Her time in silver didn’t last long — Femke Bol of the Netherlands quickly overtook her on the backstretch.
Bol finished with silver in 52.27, a season best. Muhammad took bronze in 53.18, also a season best.
McLaughlin has now broken the world record four times in the last two years. Her new world record is only .61 behind her open 400-meter personal best. Her margin of victory was the biggest in history. Generations of fans will begin using “McLaughlinesque” to describe feats deserving of the term. McLaughlin isn’t just displaying what’s possible in the event, but what’s imaginable in the event.
“I definitely thought 50 was possible,” said Muhammad. “After that race, I think 49 is possible.”
“It’s just amazing,” added Bol. “I mean, one year ago, 51 was for the first time.”
It seems like there’s nothing left to check off for McLaughlin, who appears rather nonchalant about her abilities, and is often reserved in victory while surrounded by excitement. However, McLaughlin says her coach, Bob Kersee, thinks there’s plenty left to be done. That includes trying a different event in the future, because she can.
“At some point we could do maybe the (400), maybe the 100 hurdles,” said McLaughlin. “Sky’s the limit for sure.”
