Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the record-holder for the fastest 400m hurdles, is embracing a new challenge as she prepares to compete in her first professional 100m race on May 31. The 25-year-old American star will participate in the “short hurdles” category at the upcoming Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series, set to take place at Franklin Field in Philadelphia from May 30 to June 1.
In this event, McLaughlin-Levrone will shift from her renowned 400m hurdles to the 100m hurdles and the flat 100m sprint. While she holds the astonishing world record of 50.37 seconds in the 400m hurdles, established during the Paris 2024 Olympics, her personal best in the 100m hurdles stands at 12.65 seconds, recorded at the USATF Golden Games in May 2021. The current world record in that event is 12.12 seconds, set by Tobi Amusan in 2022.
Her last outing in the 100m hurdles resulted in a solid time of 12.71 seconds, recorded in May 2024 under challenging headwind conditions. Although McLaughlin-Levrone has not yet raced professionally in the 100m, she has experience in shorter distances, including a 7.33 second finish in the 60m indoor sprint and a personal best of 22.07 seconds in the 200m, achieved shortly after her 100m hurdles performance last year.
The highly anticipated women’s 100m hurdles event is set for May 30, followed by the 100m flat race on May 31, creating excitement for fans and spectators alike. This venture not only reflects McLaughlin-Levrone’s versatility as an athlete but also her determination to embrace new opportunities on the track. Her willingness to step out of her comfort zone serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes everywhere.