EUGENE, Oregon — The anticipation builds as world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (New Balance) prepares to make her much-awaited appearance at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field on Thursday night. As expected, she will compete in her specialty, the women’s 400m hurdles, an event she’s dominated in recent seasons.
McLaughlin-Levrone, the overwhelming favorite to defend her Olympic title in Paris later this summer, enters the opening round of the women’s intermediate hurdles with a time of 52.70 seconds. This is the quickest by any American this season and the second-fastest globally, trailing only Dutch world champion Femke Bol’s 52.49.
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Her recent form over 400m, where she clocked a world-leading 48.75 seconds, indicates that McLaughlin-Levrone is in exceptional shape. She is expected to dominate her rivals in Eugene this weekend.
Racing from lane six in the first section, the 24-year-old will face Abigail Glynn of Colorado, Deonca Bookman of Tracksmith Club, and Vanessa Watson of Florida, all vying for a place in the semi-final round.
Anna Cockrell, the third-quickest U.S. athlete in this event this season, will start in heat three. She will compete against former World U20 champion Akala Garrett of Texas, who set a personal best of 54.44 earlier this month at the NCAA Championships.
Former world and Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad, who held the world record before McLaughlin-Levrone’s rise, will run in heat four. The Rio 2016 Olympic champion faces a tough challenge from Rachel Glenn of Arkansas, who has a personal best of 53.80 seconds and aims to build on her second-place finish in the high jump earlier at the trials.
Meanwhile, NCAA champion Jasmine Jones (Southern Cal) is also in great form, following her 53.15 seconds personal best at the collegiate championships. She will be looking to carry that momentum into the senior trials.
The heats of the women’s 400m hurdles are scheduled to take place at 9:49 p.m. ET.
