McLaughlin sets the world record — again — in the women's 400 hurdles

Sydney McLaughlin did it again.

For the fourth time in 13 months and the third time at Hayward Field, the 22-year-old American reset the world record in the women’s 400-meter hurdles.

The Olympic champion is now a world champion as well, as McLaughlin soared through Friday’s final in 50.68 seconds, becoming the first woman ever to run under 51 seconds

Femke Bol of the Netherlands was second in 52.27 and American Dalilah Muhammad, the reigning world champion, won bronze in 53.13.

Muhammad set a world record in 2019 when she ran 52.16 to win gold in Doha, Qatar.

She held the record for almost two years before McLaughlin went on her tear.

McLaughlin first became the world record-holder last summer in Eugene during her win at the Olympic Trials in 51.90. She broke that in Tokyo when she won Olympic gold in 51.46, and then broke it again in June when she ran 51.41 during the USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field.

“We’re pushing the bounds as a sport, especially in our event, of what’s possible in this race,” McLaughlin said. “I always think there’s more that can be shaven off for sure.”

Muhammad agreed that faster times are on the way.

“I definitely thought 50 was possible,” she said. “After that race, I think 49 is possible … for Sydney.”

McLaughlin was dialed in from the beginning Friday, barely breaking a smile during pre-race introductions as she swayed back and forth in her lane with head down and eyes closed.

By the time she hit the homestretch, there wasn't a competitor near her and all eyes turned to the clock as the crowd cheered her through the finish line.

After the race, she sat on the track for several minutes as a celebration ensued around her.

“I was just trying to process the lactic acid,” she said with a laugh. “I was taking a moment just to enjoy what had just taken place. So many times the race goes by and you forget what happened. I just really wanted to sit there for a moment and soak it all in before getting into the craziness of what follows that.”

Muhammad, 32, now has a complete set of world championship medals — gold from 2019, silver from 2013 and 2017, and now bronze.

“I’m definitely excited to come home with a medal, especially on home soil,” Muhammad said. “I was kind of nervous, honestly, going into this, just not knowing where my fitness level would be and so to get a medal just feels like icing on the cake.”

Fellow Americans Shamier Little and Britton Wilson finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in 53.76 and 54.02.

Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com. 

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This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: McLaughlin sets the world record in the women's 400 hurdles