Olympic Women’s 400H — Sixth SML Major Champs WR
NO OUTCOME IS certain in this sport, but Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone comes as close as possible to being a sure thing. The defending champion came in undefeated over the long hurdles since the ’19 Worlds. In her last 5 major championships — both national and global — she had broken the World Record each time. Paris would be no different.
SML’s prime competitor appeared to be the Netherlands’ Femke Bol. The ’23 world champion — in the year of McLaughlin-Levrone’s sabbatical from the event — she had run a European Record 50.95 in the rarefied air of La Chaux-de-Fonds (at 992m, just below the arbitrary altitude line).
The formchart also tabbed Trials runner-up Anna Cockrell for the podium, with challenges expected from Jamaican veterans Rushell Clayton and Janieve Russell. Not to be discounted was USC’s NCAA champion, Jasmine Jones.
No surprises came in the heats, with wins going to Clayton (54.32), Jones (53.60), Bol (53.38), Cockrell (53.91) and SML (53.60). The heat got turned up in the semis two days later. In the first, Clayton topped Jones, 53.00–53.83. SML won the second in 52.13; it was the fastest non-final ever.
The third semi went to Bol (an easy-looking 52.57) over Cockrell (52.90). South Africa’s Zeney Geldenhuys, in semi 1, won the distinction of the fastest non-qualifier ever at 53.90.
For the final, McLaughlin-Levrone started in lane 5, able to gauge her challengers in 6 (Bol) and 7 (Cockrell). She bolted out fast at the gun, and forged a clear lead over Cockrell and Bol at the first hurdle. The Dutchwoman caught her on the backstretch, pulling nearly even for two hurdles before SML started slipping away from her. On the final turn, the WR holder turned it into a rout, coming off with a 5–6m lead.
On the stretch, her margin became simply astounding. McLaughlin-Levrone sprinted hard and hungry as fans watched the clock in anticipation. Stretching for every hundredth, she hit the line in 50.37, the sixth World Record of her career, chopping 0.28 off what she had run at the Trials.
Behind her, Bol struggled and Cockrell found another gear, passing her for silver at the final hurdle. The American would clock 51.87, a PR that makes her the No. 4 woman ever. Bol hit 52.15 for bronze, with Jones setting an extended-season collegiate best with her 52.29, breaking a McLaughlin-Levrone record.
Said the winner, “The event is just getting faster and faster. So much depth, always keeps me on my toes, makes me want to figure out ways to improve, and get better in the race. I love to be able to improve upon myself.”
Speaking alongside the other medalists, she added, “I do think 49 is possible and I think the talent in front of you can do that. I don’t know when it’s possible, but I do think it’s out there, for sure.”
Cockrell, who was DQed from the ’21 final for a lane violation, said, “The biggest difference from 2021 to now is just commitment to the work, in all aspects of my life. Off the track, how do I become a better person, better equipped to handle the emotional highs and lows of competing.”
A disappointed Bol explained, “I maybe went a bit too crazy so I died a bit at the end. I’m not too happy about this, but it’s 400-meter hurdles — you will always die at some point.”
