Eugene, Oregon – Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone dominated the 400-meter hurdle semi-finals at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, securing a spot in Sunday’s final with ease. As the reigning gold medalist and world No. 1 in the event, McLaughlin-Levrone breezed through her race with a time of 52.48 seconds. Her performance sets the stage for what promises to be a thrilling final at Hayward Stadium in Eugene.
McLaughlin-Levrone exuded confidence as she expressed her intent to “let it fly” in the upcoming final, scheduled for 8:29 p.m. ET. Her main competition will come from Anna Cockrell, who ran a personal best of 52.95 seconds in the semi-finals to secure her place in the final.
While McLaughlin-Levrone maintained a composed demeanor, Cockrell could not contain her excitement at breaking the 53-second mark for the first time. The achievement signified a culmination of hard work and dedication for Cockrell, who expressed her satisfaction with her performance.
The women’s 400-meter hurdle final will also feature other top contenders, including Tokyo silver medalist Dalilah Muhammad and Shamier Little, who won her heat in the semi-finals. In the women’s 100 hurdles, athletes like Tokyo silver medalist Keni Harrison and Rio silver medalist Nia Ali will compete, with Alaysha Johnson posting the best semi-final time of 12.36 seconds.
On the men’s side, Rai Benjamin and CJ Allen will compete in the 400 hurdles final after recording impressive semi-final times of 47.97 seconds and 48.16 seconds, respectively. The stage is set for an exciting display of athleticism and competition as these athletes vie for spots on the U.S. Olympic Team heading to Paris.