McLaughlin Had No Hurdling Competition

Sydney McLaughlin knew there would be a lot of eyes on her in what many projected to be her only year at the collegiate level as a freshman at Kentucky in 2018.

“There’s a lot of hype … a lot of expectations,” McLaughlin told the Lexington (Ky.) Herald Leader three years ago. I try to control and distance myself from those things, because when you let all of those things in, it definitely affects you mentally and your performance as well.”

After all, as a 16-year-old prep standout, McLaughlin clocked what would have been equivalent to the seventh-fastest time in collegiate history in the 400 Hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Trials. With a third-place finish there, the soon-to-be high school senior earned a spot on Team USA for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, where she would reach the semifinals.

Well, McLaughlin definitely distanced herself from the hype – and the competition – two years ago, as she scorched the track during her freshman year with the Wildcats. Nothing stood between McLaughlin and a number of historical performances, both indoors and outdoors.

McLaughlin dazzled in her first collegiate meet for Kentucky, turning in the third fastest mark in collegiate history in the indoor 300 meters. Her time of 36.12 was the fastest in the past 36 years since Merlene Ottey ran for Nebraska.

By the time the indoor season ended, McLaughlin added two more all-time top-10 collegiate marks – but these were in the 400. McLaughlin went 50.52 at the SEC Indoor Championships for what was the second fastest performance in collegiate history and dipped under the world U20 record held by Sanya Richards from 2004. Two weeks later at the NCAA Indoor Championships, McLaughlin bettered her indoor PR to 50.36 and narrowly missed Kendall Ellis’ one-heat-old – Yes. ONE-HEAT-OLD – American and collegiate record of 50.34.

McLaughlin continued the blistering pace outdoors, posting the third fastest time in collegiate history over 400 meters in her season opener. That 50.07 at the Florida Relays was the fastest since 2016 The Bowerman winner Courtney Okolo bettered her own standard to 49.71.

One month later at the National Relay Championships, McLaughlin debuted in the 400H with a 53.60, which was the fourth fastest mark in collegiate history at the time. What made it even more impressive was that McLaughlin won her heat by nearly four seconds.

McLaughlin’s dominance carried over to the SEC Outdoor Championships where she rightfully took her place atop the collegiate record book. After a methodical 54.85 in qualifying, she ripped a 52.75 in the final to win by 3.36 seconds and shatter Kori Carter’s near five-year-old collegiate best by 0.46 seconds.

Just a few weeks later, McLaughlin won her lone NCAA title by a record margin. McLaughlin crossed the finish line in 53.76, 1.75 seconds ahead of Anna Cockrell of Southern California to top the previous meet best established of 1.54 seconds by Tonja Brown in 1982.

It’s safe to say McLaughlin, who was a finalist for The Bowerman two years ago, has continued her strong running as a professional. McLaughlin earned the 400H silver medal at the 2019 IAAF World Championships in 52.23, what is now the third fastest time in world history.