Sydney McLaughlin breaks her own world record, wins 2022 USATF Championships

Sydney McLaughlin runs away with the 2022 Toyota USATF Outdoor 400m hurdles title, breaking her own world record in the process. Photo by Bee Wilson-Trofort

By Cassie Cole

Sydney McLaughlin has broken the world record in the women’s 400m hurdles for the third time in one year. Her winning time of 51.41 seconds won her the national champion title in the 2022 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships.

McLaughlin has been the clear favorite of her event from the start of this week’s championships. She finished with the fastest times in both the first and semifinal rounds, coming in seconds ahead of her competitors. The question wasn’t if McLaughlin would win the national title, but if she would break the world record in doing so.

“I knew it was definitely possible, I’m really grateful that it happened,” said McLaughlin, who held the previous world record of 51.46. “It’s just a great indicator for where we’re at going into Worlds.” As the world record holder and national champion, McLaughlin will head to the World Athletics Championship in July to compete for the world title. Worlds will be held at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, where McLaughlin has now broken the record twice.

“It’s Track Town, USA—what do you expect? I mean, anytime I come here I can just feel something amazing is gonna happen,” she said.

Despite holding a significant lead over her competitors, McLaughlin believes that she still has much to improve upon in preparation for Worlds. “I don’t think the perfect race ever exists,” she said. Her next steps have her focusing on pushing herself mentally and developing a deeper understanding of the race.

Britton Wilson and Shamier Little will be joining McLaughlin at Worlds after finishing second and third, respectively, in the 400m hurdles. The former two women are training partners.

“I just knew I needed to keep myself mentally straight and keep my head in the game,” said Wilson, who is the 2022 NCAA champion in this event. “Physically I knew I could do it. I’ve worked super hard to get here.” Wilson explained that although McLaughlin was in the lane next to her, she didn’t feel pressured to match her speed. She knew she wouldn’t be able to beat the two-time Olympic gold medalist, but she could pace herself.

“When I see [McLaughlin] pass, I just knew I needed to stay focused, don’t panic, and go with her,” said Wilson. “I just know I need to stick with her and run my race.” Wilson finished with a new personal best of 53.08 seconds.

Little rounds out the 400m hurdle team headed to Worlds with a third-place time of 53.92 seconds, a season best. She is the 2015 World Championship silver medalist in the event, but it’s been a while since she’s joined Team USA.

“It’s been a long time since I made a team and this is just the ultimate feeling. I’m on a high right now, I’m so excited,” said Little.

“Last three hurdles I know I just had to bring it home,” Little said after her event. She moved from sixth place to third within the second half of the race, overtaking 2020 Olympian Anna Cockrell during those last three hurdles.

Little felt that she had made the team before she even crossed the line, but it was the confirmation on the jumbotron that brought the feelings.

“Just to see my name pop up there, just the weight lifted off my shoulders, like, I did it,” said Little. “Just so much more in store for me, us, this event,” she added.

The stellar team of McLaughlin, Wilson and Little will be joined by defending world champion Dalilah Muhammad at Worlds. Muhammad will not be competing at nationals this week due to a hamstring injury, but has received a bye into worlds due to her 2019 world champion status.

“I think all four of us are gonna go out there and represent USA very well,” said McLaughlin. “We’re gonna try to get all of us on the podium and do what we have to do.” With McLaughlin heading the team, the women’s 400m hurdles promises to be one of the highlights of the World Championships this summer.