Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States, the Olympic 400m hurdles champion, surprised her more seasoned sprint rivals in the 200 meters at the USATF LA Grand Prix 2024 at UCLA’s Drake Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., on Saturday.
Competing in the 200m for the second time this season, McLaughlin-Levrone surged ahead of a field that included world silver medalist Gabby Thomas and Abby Steiner. She rounded the corner with a commanding lead and maintained her advantage to the finish line, improving her personal best to 22.07 seconds despite a slight -0.3 m/s headwind.
“I am having fun,” said McLaughlin-Levrone, whose previous personal best was 22.39 seconds from 2018.
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Abby Steiner finished second with a time of 22.32 seconds, while former world silver medalist Brittany Brown secured third place in 22.35 seconds.
Among the competitors trailing McLaughlin-Levrone was reigning U.S. champion and world No. 2 Gabby Thomas, who finished sixth in 22.68 seconds. Rhasidat Adeleke of Ireland placed fourth with 22.45 seconds, followed by Jenna Prandini of the USA at 22.61 seconds for fifth.
In other events, Michael Norman of the USA claimed the men’s 400m title with a solid time of 44.53 seconds, followed by Grenada’s Kirani James (44.85), Vernon Norwood of the USA (44.86), and Bryce Deadmon of the USA (44.92), all dipping under 45 seconds.
Olympic silver medalist Rai Benjamin of the USA clocked a world-leading time of 46.64 seconds to win the men’s 400m hurdles, ahead of Roshawn Clarke of Jamaica, who posted 48.11 seconds.
Halimah Nakaayi set a Uganda national record with 1:57.56 in the women’s 800m, beating Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma, who finished with a personal best of 1:57.56.
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