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Sydney McLaughlin broke the 400m hurdles world record for the third time last year, this time at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships.
The Olympic champion ran 51.41 seconds in Eugene, Oregon, beating her previous record of 51.46 at the Olympics. Overall, McLaughlin lowered the record of 52.16 last year.
“Every time I go out on the track, anything goes,” said McLaughlin, who wanted to celebrate by eating “some real food alongside veggies” like a cheeseburger or pancakes. “The goal is to improve myself and to push the limits.”
McLaughlins legendary trainer, Bob Kerseesaid McLaughlin will eventually turn to the flat 400 and chase this (37-year-old) world record, perhaps after capping this season with a world title in three weeks, NBC Sports analyst Atto Boldon said. For now, McLaughlin has those worlds in her sights, including in Eugene, where she will look to complete her collection with a first world title.
“I’m just learning about racing in general. Over the years I’ve progressed and learned the 400m hurdles,” she said. “It’s a really cool feeling to actually have a race plan instead of just going out and running.”
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Also Saturday, the farewell Allyson Felix likely secured a spot on her 10th and final World Championship team by finishing sixth in the 400m. Talitha Diggswhose Olympian mother competed in her first championships at her last championships a year before Felix, won to qualify for worlds in three weeks, also in Eugene.
“Lucky I never have open 400s again,” Felix said, adding that she would like to run the mixed-gender 4x400m relay at world championships and would do the women’s 4x400m relay if requested. “I came here and I gave it my all, tried to position myself for a season and I succeeded. Can not complain.”
Michael Norman won the men’s 400m in 43.56, bettering his own fastest time in the world that year. Norman was the world’s fastest 400-meter sprinter in the last Olympic cycle, but did not win any individual medals between World Championships and the Olympics. surprise runners-up Champion Allison improved his personal best from 44.29 to 43.70.
Keni Harrisonthe Olympic 100m hurdles silver medalist and world record holder, won in 12.35, edging out the Olympic gold medalist Jasmine Camacho Quinn by Puerto Rico as the world’s fastest that year. Harrison flinched Alaysha Johnson by a hundredth. Nia Ali did not start in the final, but says goodbye to the world team as reigning champion.
Rio Olympic silver medalist Evan Jaegerwho, until April, took almost four years between completing 3000m steeplechase events due to injuries, finished second and earned the time norm to make the world team.
“It’s been a really tough, long journey building my body and confidence back up,” Jager, 33, told Lewis Johnson on NBC. “I’m really proud of myself.”
Sinclaire Johnson won the women’s 1500m in 4:03.29, fielding her first world team. She will be joined by Olympic finalists Cory McGee and Elle St.Pierre.
Former Oregon Duck Cooper tears won the men’s 1500m in the absence of two other former Ducks – 2016 Olympic champions Matthew Centrowitz (knee operation) and Olympic champion Cole Stool (eliminated in the first round). Teare missed out on the Olympic 5000m team by one place.
All favorites came from the 200 m first round – world champions Noah Lyle (who automatically has a place on the world team), 18 years old Erryon Knighton, Fred Kerley and Olympic bronze medalist Gaby Thomas, Sha’Carri Richardson and Abby Steiner.
Likewise in the 110-meter hurdles (world champion Grant Holloway and Devon Allen).
The semi-finals and finals in these events are on Sunday.
Olympic silver medalist Chris Nilsen won the pole vault with a distance of 5.70 meters. Sam Kendricks scratched but still able to compete in world championships as reigning world champion via waiver.
Kara Winger won her ninth US javelin title and qualified for her sixth world team by hitting the qualifying standard on her last throw at her last national championships before retiring.
Maggie Malone, the world No. 1 that year, was fouled on all three throws. She could still go to Worlds though as she is one of two US women with the qualifying standard.
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