University of Kentucky
Sydney McLaughlin, forgoes remaining collegiate eligibility at University of Kentucky and signs with talent agency.
Sports Business Daily has reported that Dunellen’s most famous track and field athlete Sydney McLaughlin has signed with talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME). The agency not only represents Hollywood actors and bestselling authors, but also represents professional athlete including McLaughlin’s idol, six-time Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix.
After her appearance at the NCAA Championships in June, McLaughlin announced that she would be ending her college eligibility status after just one year, foregoing her final three years of eligibility at the University of Kentucky. She was scheduled to make her professional debut a few weeks later at the U.S. Track and Field Championships but did not, due to tightness in her hamstrings.
McLaughlin, who turns 19 on Aug. 7, had a very successful collegiate track season. She broke her own World U20 record in the women’s 400 hurdles at the SEC Outdoor Championships on May 13 with a time of 52.75, which also broke an NCAA record. She also broke a 400m World U20 record with her win (50.52) at the SEC Indoor Championships. At the wet and dreary NCAA Championships, she won the 400H with a 53.96, almost two seconds ahead of second place Anna Cockrell. An hour later, she ran her final race as a scholar-athlete, a 50.03 split on the 4×400 relay team.
For her collegiate accomplishments, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) awarded McLaughlin First-Team All-America status in the 2018 NCAA Division I Track & Field season five times: Indoor 200m, 400m, 4x400m and Outdoor 400H, 4x400m.
It is unlikely that McLaughlin will race again until the Spring 2019 season.