Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the 400-meter hurdles final at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials on Sunday, setting a world record for the event.
Defending gold medallist and world number one McLaughlin-Levrone finished the race in 50.65 seconds, just two seconds behind Anna Cockerill and Jasmine Jones.
By placing in the top three, all three secured spots on the Olympic team for the event, leading the U.S. into one of the strongest competitions in Paris.
McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning gold medallist and world number one, barely finished the race in 52.48 seconds in Saturday’s semi-finals to qualify for Sunday’s final at Hayward Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
The calm-natured McLaughlin-Levrone promised to “fly” in the final event of the meet.
McLaughlin kept her promise, and crouched on the floor covering her mouth in shock at the record-breaking time.
After the race McLaughlin thanked God and said he was “amazed, amazed and in shock.”
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She was given tough competition by Cockerill, who booked a place in the final by recording a personal best time of 52.95 seconds in the semi-finals – and then went even better in the final with a time of 52.64 seconds.
In contrast to McLaughlin-Levrone’s professional demeanor, Cockerell could not contain her joy when she crossed the 53-second mark for the first time.
“It means I’m ready,” she said. “It lets me know that what we’ve been working towards in the past is working. I’m happy, I’m happy.”
Powerful contestants in Sunday’s final also included Tokyo silver medallist Dalilah Muhammad and Shamier Little, who won their heats on Saturday.
After securing her Olympic spot in the 400m hurdles, second-placed Cockerell said she was “emotional” but that she wanted to use the occasion to talk not about herself but about Muhammad, who Cockerell said had “revolutionised” the event.
“Your impact on this sport goes far beyond medals and records,” Cockerill said.
Muhammad finished sixth in the event and missed out on a place in Paris.
“Your grace, your balance, your competitiveness, your guidance — I can’t say thank you enough to ‘D,’” Cockerell said. “I want to give her flowers now.”
Tokyo silver medallist Kenny Harrison, Rio silver medallist Nia Ali and Alaysha Johnson, who recorded a best semi-final time of 12.36 seconds, competed in the women’s 100m hurdles.
Harrison finished sixth and Ali fourth, missing out on a spot in the team for the competition.
World number 17 Masai Russell was the winner of the 100m race, followed by Johnson and Grace Stark.
Roy Benjamin, CJ Allen and Trevor Bassitt, who won silver medals in Tokyo, have secured spots in the men’s 400m hurdles.
Benjamin and Allen had the top two times in the final – meet records of 46.46 and 47.81, respectively. Bassitt clocked 47.82.
