Four-time Olympic gold medallist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is set to make her Prefontaine Classic debut this Saturday, July 5, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. While she’s best known for her dominance in the 400m hurdles—where she holds the world record—this time, she’ll showcase her flat-out sprinting speed in the 400m flat.
This particular race isn’t a Diamond League points event, but it’s still shaping up to be one of the meet’s most anticipated showdowns. McLaughlin-Levrone enters with a personal best of 48.74 seconds, clocked at the 2023 U.S. Championships at the same venue. That time is just 0.04 seconds shy of the American record of 48.70 seconds, set by Sanya Richards-Ross in 2006.
Focused on the Race, Not the Record
Speaking at a pre-event press conference on July 4, McLaughlin-Levrone downplayed talk of chasing history. Instead, she expressed admiration for Richards-Ross, calling the record “great” and describing her fellow American as “an amazing athlete.”
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to run it free,” she said. “It’s my first time here in this event at this meet, and I just want to focus on executing my race and seeing what happens.”
Lane Five Luck
In a lighthearted moment during the press conference, the lane assignments were revealed. McLaughlin-Levrone, with a smile, admitted she hoped for lane five—a spot that’s brought her success before. Sure enough, she landed it, the very lane where she set her 48.74 PB two years ago.
The Competition
While McLaughlin-Levrone’s presence alone raises the stakes, she’ll face a deep field of challengers:
- Aaliyah Butler – The NCAA outdoor champion, boasting a season-best 49.26.
- Alexis Holmes – A member of the gold medal-winning 4x400m relay team at Paris 2024, who ran alongside McLaughlin-Levrone.
- Amber Anning – The World Indoor Champion with a season-best of 49.96, bringing international firepower to the race.
Each brings the speed and pedigree to make the race highly competitive, ensuring McLaughlin-Levrone won’t have it all her own way.
What’s at Stake
Though McLaughlin-Levrone isn’t explicitly chasing the record, the proximity of her personal best to Richards-Ross’s longstanding mark makes this race a must-watch. A strong performance could etch her name even deeper into U.S. track history.
Prediction? Expect a tactical, high-intensity race, with McLaughlin-Levrone likely aiming for a smooth, controlled first 200 meters before unleashing her trademark finishing strength. Whether or not the American record falls, fans are in for a blockbuster debut at the Prefontaine Classic.