Eugene, July 13 (BUS): American Sidney McLaughlin prepares for another superstar in Eugene, Hayward Field, Oregon, as the world record holder plans to demolish the 400-meter hurdles at the world championships starting Friday.
All eyes will be on the 22-year-old who has made the extraordinary sensation almost routine as she returns to the track where she has now broken the world record twice, Reuters reports.
McLaughlin beat her main rival and former world champion Dalila Muhammad by 51.90 seconds at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene a year ago, only to break that record at the Games in Tokyo, taking the gold in 51.46. Read more
McLaughlin never faced a serious challenge in the US Final in June when she clocked the bar again at 51.41, a performance she attributed in part to the charm of ‘Tracktown, USA’.
“Anytime I come here I feel like something amazing is going to happen,” she told reporters. Read more
While Eugene is the source of inspiration, the steady hand of coach Bobby Kersey – who has worked with track and field’s most famous American Allison Felix – certainly helps.
McLaughlin maintained a tight schedule in 2022, winning the 100-meter hurdles at Ben Rellis in April before overcoming the 400-meter hurdles in Nashville last month.
“(We) keep going and figuring out where we can improve,” she told reporters after Kersey pulled her out of the New York Grand Prix at the last minute in June. “Just push the boundaries of what is possible.”
The strategy clearly paid off, as McLaughlin’s obsession is sure to spread in Eugene as the United States hosts its first world championship.
“I’m really excited for what’s to come and I think my coach and I are in a really great place mentally,” she said after winning the national team title. “We’ll just go back and do the work.”
“Just getting out here and being better than I was the day before, that’s always my expectation and my goal.”
McLaughlin faces a serious challenge from Muhammad, who will be determined to hold on to her world title after an unsuccessful Olympic title defense in Tokyo.
A decade older, Mohamed has the experience but is getting into Eugene after a hamstring adjustment a few weeks ago.
And the Dutchman, Bronze winner Fimk Paul in Tokyo, who is 22 years old like McLaughlin, is a potential threat.
“I still hope to do something special also in Eugene,” she told reporters after winning the Stockholm Diamond League meeting last month at 52.27.
“When you see Hayward’s results, I’m really excited to go out there and have some great competitors out there.”
The World Championships will run from 15th to 24th July.