Seven Takeaways on Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone focusing on the 400 meters in Eugene

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is a one in a generation talent! This year, we were so fortunate to see Sydney compete even more in the early season and take some chances! Here are my takes on this magnifiscent athlete!

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone gave her all in the Grand Slam events! Sydney ran two 400m hurdles races, won them both, ran two 400m races in the Long hurdles! Sydney ran 52.76, then WL and 50.32, pretty darn good double in Kingston to open the season. In Miami, Sydney ran 52.07 WL, GST record, and 49.69, GST and seasonal best, just a month after opening.
In the third event of the GST series, Sydney ran the short hurdles, Sydney took second in the 100m hurdles, racing 12.70 to Ackera Nugent’s 12.44, a Franklin field record! In the 100 meters, Sydney ran 11.21, a very sold 100 meter flat race! What do we learn from Philly? Sydney loves to compete!
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Grand Slam Track Meet 1
Kingston, Jamaica
April 6, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
Grand Slam Track was built around Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, in my mind. Sydney draws fans, sponsors and television to her events. A six time world record holder in the 400 meter hurdles, a brilliant 4x400m, Sydney has what it takes to continue in this sport, heck, through 2032, if she so desired.
The 400 meter flat is now Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s focus for the US champs and, with the relay for Tokyo. We know she is fantastic over the hurdles, but could she be even better over the 400 meter flat?
This writer recalls an interview in 2023 at the NYC Grand Prix, where Sydney told me that, for her, the difference in the 400m hurdles and 400 meter flat is all about getting her timing right. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone understands the nuances of her events, and that is fun to hear.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, WR holder at 400m hurdles, will be racing the 400m flat, do not miss it! July 4, 2025, Presser 4, NIKE Pre Classic, photo by Brian K. Eder for RunBlogRun
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone puts her trust in God, her husband and coach. Like most athletes who have worked with the enigmatic Bobby Kersee, she trusts this man implicitly. Bobby Kersee is one of the most brilliant and eccentric coaches in our sport, he is also a guy who delivers gold, silver and bronze medals like they were M&Ms and has done so for 40 plus years!
Will Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone break the American record of one Sanya Richards-Ross in the 400 meters? It is, in my mind, not will she, but whe she will. I believe that Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will run a high 47 point for the 400 meters someday. Sydney is just that incredibly talented. Please, watch all the rounds of the 400 meters for women this weekend!
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Grand Slam Track, photo by Grand Slam Track

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Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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