by Los Angeles (USA), June 25 (EFE).- The American athlete Sydney McLaughlin broke the 400 m hurdles world record this Saturday by achieving a time of 51.41 at the United States National Championships, which are being held in Eugene (Oregon, USA).
McLaughlin surpassed himself as the previous record was also his (51.46 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics).
The American has two Olympic gold medals (400 m hurdles and 4×400) and will try to become world champion at the World Championships in Athletics, which will be held in Eugene from July 15 to 24.
McLaughlin, only 22 years old, was the great protagonist of Saturday in the US Championships and his test closed the program of this third day.
With great authority and uncanny poise, McLaughlin dominated the race from the start and didn’t let up down the stretch to set a new world record.
His mark of 51.41 is four seconds below the minimum required for World Cups (55.40).
As soon as the race was over, the athlete told the American NBC broadcast that she was “very grateful” for this new historical mark.
He also stressed that, together with his compatriots Britton Wilson (second this Saturday with 53.08) and Shamier Little (third with 53.92), he will try to “represent the United States” as well as possible in the World Cups in July, and said that hopefully they can occupy the three the podium
With this new record, McLaughlin consolidates himself as one of the great sensations of world athletics.
In addition to her two gold medals obtained at Tokyo 2020, the American’s record includes one gold in 4×400 and one silver in 400m hurdles at the 2019 Doha World Championships.
FELIX FACE HIS FAREWELL
McLaughlin’s splendid display left in the background the rest of the penultimate day played at Hayward Field in Eugene, the same stadium where the World Cups will be played.
For that event, the first three of each test of the US Championship are classified.
In the women’s 400m, 19-year-old college champion Talitha Diggs took the win (50.22) ahead of Kendall Ellis (50.35) and Lynna Irby (50.67).
In sixth position with 51.24 came the legendary Allyson Felix, winner of 11 Olympic medals (including 7 golds) and who, at 36 years old, announced last April that she will retire at the end of this season.
With the absence of Nia Ali, winner of the Doha World Cup in 2019, the victory in the 100m hurdles went to Keni Harrison, who holds the world record (12.20 in 2016) and who narrowly beat Alaysha Johnson (12.34). (12.35).
Alia Armstrong (12.47) achieved the podium in a race with which Harrison achieved the best time of the year.
In the 1,500m, Sinclaire Johnson took the win (4:03.29) ahead of Cory McGee (4:04.52) and Elle St. Pierre (4:05.14).
For her part, the veteran Kara Winger, 36, was proclaimed champion of the javelin throw with a fantastic last attempt of 64.26 -her best mark of the course- that left behind Ariana Ince (60.43) and Avione Allgood -Whetstone (59.26).
The negative surprise was given by Maggie Malone, who holds the American record for this discipline (67.40) and the best world record of the year (65.73) but who failed all three of her throws.
In addition, Keturah Orji, who holds the triple jump American record (14.92 in 2021), won (14.79) by beating Tori Franklin (14.59) and Jasmine Moore (14.15).
In the men’s finals, Michael Norman, gold in Tokyo 2020 in 4×400, shone in the 400m with a time of 43.56 which is the best time of the year.
Norman defeated Champion Allison (43.70) and Randolph Ross (44.17).
For her part, Hillary Bor won the victory in 3,000 obstacles with 8:15.76, a race in which Evan Jager (8:17.29) and Benard Keter (8:19.16) also got on the podium; while Cooper Teare (3:45.86) was the winner in 1,500 m ahead of Jonathan Davis (3:46.01) and Josh Thompson (3:46.07);
In pole vault, Chris Nilsen, silver in Tokyo 2020, was the winner by overcoming 5.70 on his first attempt while Luke Winder (5.70) and Andrew Irwin (5.60) were second and third, respectively.
Finally, Rudy Winkler, who holds the American record in the hammer throw (82.71), had to settle for second place against Daniel Haugh.
Haugh started at full speed, with a first throw of 80.18 meters (the best record of his career), and thus beat Winkler (78.33) and Alex Young (76.60).
(c) EFE Agency
