“Awesome! Amazing! Oh my God !” Spectators present Friday evening at Hayward Field were able to exult as they saw Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin win her first world title in the 400m hurdles, smashing her own world record (51”41 at the end of June at the Trials), increased to 50′ ’68. This is the first world record set in Eugene during these Worlds. A slap that left the public flabbergasted, and obviously also the American (22), almost incredulous when she saw her time on the giant screen. With this time, McLaughlin would have taken seventh place in…the 400m final held a few minutes earlier! It is also the fourth time in thirteen months that the athlete trained by Bob Kersee has broken a world record.
The Dutch Femke Bol took second place in 52”27 and the American Dalilah Muhammad, defending champion, third in 53”13.
“It’s unreal, reacted McLaughlin questioned on the track of Hayward Field. I ran flat out, obviously it hurts. I am so grateful to the Lord, my coach, my team. It’s a collective success.”. A track that suits her perfectly since it is the third time that she has set a world record in Oregon, after the 2021 Trials and the 2022 Trials.