Eugene, Ore. Olympic champion Sidney McLaughlin set her own world record in the 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday.
When her time was announced, McLaughlin gave a wide smile, then a thumbs-up. She crossed the finish line in 51.41 seconds and broke her own record of 51.46 sets at the Tokyo Games last year, where she won the gold medal.
She said she didn’t know what to expect as she crossed the last hurdle.
“I was just about to finish the race. You know anything is possible,” she said. “I’m really grateful for that.”
The top three finishers in each of the national championships will represent the United States at next month’s World Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene. The largest off-Olympic track and field competition will be held on American soil for the first time.
Alison Felix, the most beautiful woman in track history, finished sixth in the 400, her last national championship race.
Felix, who announced in April that this would be his last season, is enjoying the last days of his illustrious career – which includes 11 Olympic medals. She plans to run her last official race in her native Los Angeles in August. Despite its demise, Felix hopes to become the world’s mixed relay team.
NCAA champion Florida’s Talitha Diggs scored 400 runs in 50.22 seconds. Delilah Muhammad was knocked out of the race with a minor injury, but she has already qualified for the World Championships as the eventual winner.
Diggs said, “It was a great field. So I wanted to keep my form, keep my core engaged, and just push. “
Felix laughed when asked if he was disappointed with the finish.
“Honestly not. You know 400 is hard for me. It’s not my natural passion, I’ve always challenged myself,” she said.
Michael Norman, the world’s leading scorer in 43.56, scored 400 runs for men. He was first in Olympic tests last year and fifth in Tokyo.
World record holder Kenny Harrison won the women’s 100 hurdles at 12:34.
Temperatures at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field reached their 90s low. Sunday’s schedule, the last day of the meeting, was extended the day before due to the heat.
Runner Shakari Richardson advanced to the 200 final and finished second in her heat on Sunday.
Richardson, known for her changing hair color and long nails, did not qualify for the 100 finals, although she was one of the favorites after winning the competition at the Olympic Trials last year. Richardson did not make the U.S. team for Tokyo after testing positive for marijuana after the race.
Richardson had several late scratches on the heat, but she finished in 22.69 seconds. Abby Steiner of Kentucky, who set a college record in the 200m at the NCAA Track and Field Championships, had the best time in the heat at 22.14.
American record holder Cara Winger won the javelin throw with a throw of 210 feet, 10 inches, her ninth national title in her career. 2019 NCAA Champion Sinclair Johnson won the 1,500m in 4: 03.29.
On the men’s side, Cooper finished first in Tier 3: 45.86. There were 5,000 tears on the last day of the meeting on Sunday. Olympic silver medalist Chris Nielsen won the pole vault. Hillary Burr won the steeplechase by such a large margin that she stood under the stretch and cheered.
