USA Track & Field (USATF) named Dunellen’s Sydney McLaughlin USATF Athlete of the Week after her recent record-breaking performance at New Balance Nationals (NBN).
On Sunday, McLaughlin, a junior at Union Catholic High School (UC), had a time of 54.46 in the 400m hurdles, smashing a 32-year-old high school record (55.20 set by Leslie Maxie in 1984). She now holds the best youth 400m hurdles time in the world. This is McLaughlin’s third consecutive NBN title in the 400m hurdles. [VIDEO]
Mclaughlin, as the 400m anchor, also helped her UC team win the Swedish Medley Relay (SMR) for a third consecutive national championship on Saturday with a national record time of 2:07.99. Running the fastest 400m split time for a girls’ relay in U.S. history, McLaughlin brought the team from last place to first place. According to RunnerSpace, McLaughlin wasn’t trying to break a record. “I wasn’t even thinking about the timing, I was just trying to finish the race. I just wanted to go out and run…the best I could, and the time was just a bonus.” [VIDEO]
The 16-year-old, who also holds several NJ high school track records, was again named Gatorade State Girls Track & Field Athletes of the Year, having won the honor last year.
McLaughlin will next compete Friday in the first round of the women’s 400m hurdles at 5:45 p.m., at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships. She will also be participating in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field for women’s 400m hurdles held in Eugene, Oregon July 7.