The fastest woman ever over 400m hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, isn’t one to shy away from a challenge – and she has found a new one.
McLaughlin-Levrone will race in her first pro 100m on 31 May.
The 25-year-old U.S. star has decided to run in the “short hurdles” category at the next stop of Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series, which takes place at Franklin Field in Philadelphia from 30 May to 1 June.
With each category formed of two similar events, it means not only will McLaughlin-Levrone trade her usual full-lap hurdles for the 100m hurdles sprint, she will also be racing on the flat at 100m.
No one has come close to her 50.37 record over 400m hurdles, set at the Paris 2024 Olympics, although the 100m hurdles will be a different story. McLaughlin-Levrone’s personal best over the sprint hurdles stands at 12.65, set at the USATF Golden Games in May 2021. The current world record in that event is 12.12, set by Tobi Amusan in 2022.
The American last ran over 100m hurdles in May 2024, clocking a 12.71 into a headwind. While she has never run a professional 100m race, she has dabbled in both the 60m indoor sprint – clocking a 7.33 in 2023 – as well as the half-lap, with her 200m personal best 22.07 coming two weeks after her 100m hurdles outing last year.
The women’s 100m hurdles race in Philadelphia is currently scheduled for 30 May, with the 100m flat a day later.
