Dunellen resident Taylor McLaughlin finished second in his heat at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, right behind the runner with the fastest time overall, Kefilwe Mogawane of the Republic of South Africa. McLaughlin’s finishing position allowed him to advance to the semifinals. He finished fourth overall.
McLaughlin will be running in the semifinals’ third heat on July 22. His personal best time of 49.73 makes him as third fastest runner in the heat. Only the first two runners in each heat and the next two fastest competitors will go on to the finals.
A rising sophomore at the University of Michigan, McLaughlin won the 2016 USATF Junior Outdoor Championships in the Men’s 400m Hurdles last month. His younger sister Sydney won the event’s Women’s 400m Hurdles, earning her a slot in the World U20 Championships as well. However, she opted out of the competition to concentrate on preparing for the Summer Olympics in Rio.