Sydney McLaughlin shatters 400m hurdles world record at track worlds

Sydney McLaughlin is in a field of her own, obliterating the 400-meter hurdles world record Friday night to clinch gold at the world championships.

Her time of 50.68 seconds marks the fourth time in 13 months that McLaughlin has broken her own world record, shattering her time of 51.14 from one month ago.

The American star finished 1.59 seconds ahead of Femke Bol of the Netherlands and fellow countrywoman Dalilah Muhammad, who finished third with a time of 53.13 seconds.

There are no words. We are witnessing GREATNESS!

It's a WORLD RECORD for @GoSydGo. 🥇#WorldAthleticsChamps | #WCHOregon22 pic.twitter.com/UU4nqNBmeJ

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) July 23, 2022

“We thought we’d be able to go a little bit faster,” McLaughlin told Lewis Johnson of NBC Sports after the race. “But we’re super grateful with that time. Anything under 51 was a win for us.”

To put McLaughlin’s pace into perspective, her 50.68-second finish would’ve earned her seventh place in the world’s 400 flat final.

At 22 years old, McLaughlin is now the second-youngest athlete to hold the Olympic title, world gold and world record in an individual event, second only to Ethiopian distance runner Kenenisa Bekele.

Next for McLaughlin will likely be the worlds 4×400 relay final, if the United States qualifies and she opts to run.