Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Shatters American Record in 400m World Championship Semifinals
TOKYO - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has broken the American record in the 400m, clocking a time of 48.29 seconds in the semifinals of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The time surpasses the previous record of 48.70 seconds, set by Sanya Richards-Ross exactly 19 years prior on the same date in 2006.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s performance currently ranks as the seventh-fastest time in history, improving upon her previous personal best of 48.90 seconds achieved at the US Track & Field Championships last month. the current world record stands at 47.60 seconds, set by Marita Koch in 1985.
“Honored, for sure,” McLaughlin-Levrone told reporters after the race.”I definitely wasn’t expecting that time, but it just shows the fitness is there. Excited for the finals and grateful to have taken down a record by an amazing woman.”
The 400m final is scheduled for Thursday. McLaughlin-Levrone will face competition from Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain) and Marileidy Paulino (Dominican Republic), both of whom have personal bests under 48.30 seconds,though neither has matched that speed this season. Paulino won the gold medal in the 400m at the Paris Olympics with a time of 48.17 seconds.
McLaughlin-Levrone indicated she conserved energy during the final 30 meters of her semifinal run. “I think the last 30 meters were a bit more reserved,just trying to maintain,but it was a fast time. Definitely gotta go home and get some treatment.”
A dominant force in the 400m hurdles, were she holds multiple world records and two Olympic gold medals, McLaughlin-Levrone has quickly established herself as a contender in the 400m flat. She attended the University of Kentucky, winning the 2018 NCAA title in the 400m hurdles with a collegiate record time of 52.75 seconds. In 2024, she was inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame and named Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year.
