Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to run 400m at 2025 Pre Classic

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11 months ago 06/23/2025 1:28pm EDT

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is running the Pre Classic for the first time in her career. The race is on July 5 and she will run the flat 400.

If you were wondering what it would take for SML to run America's biggest pro meet, we have the answer: cancel basically all the other US meets around this time -- no Grand Slam Track LA, no USATF NYC Grand Prix, no USATF LA Grand Prix. Bobby Kersee doesn't want SML to go two months without racing ahead of USAs and doesn't like having her go to Europe. Hence, Prefontaine.

Glad she's running it. One of America's biggest track stars will only make the Pre Classic better. Though I'm curious who they will get to face her as they have not announced the rest of the field yet. She was supposed to race Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser at GST LA. Will they still come to Pre? If so, Pre will have to pay up to get them because the women's 400 is a non-Diamond discipline at Pre this year.

preclassic.com

Olympic Gold Medalist, World Record-Holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to Compete at 50th Edition of The Prefontaine Classic — The Prefontaine Classic

Natalie Baltierra

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning Olympic gold medalist and current 400-meter Hurdles world record-holder, will headline the Women’s 400m at next week’s 50th edition of The Prefontaine Classic.

Open link

This post was edited 52 seconds after it was posted.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 1:40pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

Jonathan Gault wrote:
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is running the Pre Classic for the first time in her career. The race is on July 5 and she will run the flat 400.
If you were wondering what it would take for SML to run America's biggest pro meet, we have the answer: cancel basically all the other US meets around this time -- no Grand Slam Track LA, no USATF NYC Grand Prix, no USATF LA Grand Prix. Bobby Kersee doesn't want SML to go two months without racing ahead of USAs and doesn't like having her go to Europe. Hence, Prefontaine.
Glad she's running it. One of America's biggest track stars will only make the Pre Classic better. Though I'm curious who they will get to face her. She was supposed to race Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser at GST LA. Will they still come to Pre? If so, Pre will have to pay up to get them because the women's 400 is a non-Diamond discipline at Pre this year.
Link:www.preclassic.com/news/olympic-gold-m...

Hahaha, that was good.

My guess is that it's an okay field with the best American Nike contracted 400 runners (Butler, Holmes etc), Isabella Whittaker and one or two from the Caribbean, but ultimately it's set up for SML to run for a time - even though Whittaker could make it interesting. I'd doubt that as a non-DL event there would be many overseas athletes in it, especially ones not sponsored by Nike (bad enough from their perspective the two best in the field will be NB and ON athletes to begin with).

11 months ago 06/23/2025 1:40pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

JG, I created the same thread at the same time you posted this one... Sorry about that. You can merge them or delete mine.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 2:34pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

Will this be the year she finally breaks the American record? Would be funny if she

1) Misses it by fractions of a second again or 2) breaks it but loses to another American. Some Americans I’d be interested in seeing run it would be Jameesia Ford, Whittaker, Alexis Holmes, Butler, Irby Jackson, and Kaylin Brown.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 3:30pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

Jonathan Gault wrote:
If you were wondering what it would take for SML to run America's biggest pro meet, we have the answer: cancel basically all the other US meets around this time -- no Grand Slam Track LA, no USATF NYC Grand Prix, no USATF LA Grand Prix. Bobby Kersee doesn't want SML to go two months without racing ahead of USAs and doesn't like having her go to Europe. Hence, Prefontaine.

I think the other necessary condition for getting Sydney to run at Pre was adding one of her events to the meet lineup. Last year’s meet didn’t have a women’s 400m hurdles, 400m, or 200m. This year’s meet didn’t have any of those events either until this announcement.

Looks like Pre added the women’s 400m just for Sydney. That’s remarkable considering that Pre is a Nike meet and Sydney is a New Balance athlete.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 3:34pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

Jonathan Gault wrote:
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is running the Pre Classic for the first time in her career. The race is on July 5 and she will run the flat 400.

Dont care unless Athing Mu is entered as well.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 3:40pm EDT

re: Logan chaps

Logan chaps wrote:
Dont care unless Athing Mu is entered as well.

Mu has already been announced for the 800m.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 3:43pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

Bummer that the 400 isn't a Diamond league event. Hope they can still get some good competition in it.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 3:44pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

Jonathan Gault wrote:
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is running the Pre Classic for the first time in her career. The race is on July 5 and she will run the flat 400.
If you were wondering what it would take for SML to run America's biggest pro meet, we have the answer: cancel basically all the other US meets around this time -- no Grand Slam Track LA, no USATF NYC Grand Prix, no USATF LA Grand Prix. Bobby Kersee doesn't want SML to go two months without racing ahead of USAs and doesn't like having her go to Europe. Hence, Prefontaine.
Glad she's running it. One of America's biggest track stars will only make the Pre Classic better. Though I'm curious who they will get to face her as they have not announced the rest of the field yet. She was supposed to race Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser at GST LA. Will they still come to Pre? If so, Pre will have to pay up to get them because the women's 400 is a non-Diamond discipline at Pre this year.
Link:www.preclassic.com/news/olympic-gold-m...

Why does he not like her going to Europe?

11 months ago 06/23/2025 3:53pm EDT

re: UkrainianHunk

UkrainianHunk wrote:
Will this be the year she finally breaks the American record?

I think she'll break it easily.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 4:26pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

Speaks well on Nike to do this for her, a non-nike athlete. because overall it's good for their meet and good for the sport. but definitely not great for Nike.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 4:37pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

I didn't realize that she is one of only three Americans who have broken 49 seconds. That is a very small club.

Here is the last time Sydney ran at Hayward, a 48.74 (the American record is Sanya Richard Ross's 48.70):

YouTube.com

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone DOMINATES for 400m National Title, near American record | NBC Sports

NBC Sports

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Watch on YouTube

This post was edited 3 minutes after it was posted.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 4:42pm EDT

re: FuriousBrit

FuriousBrit wrote:
UkrainianHunk wrote:
Will this be the year she finally breaks the American record?
I think she'll break it easily.

I think so too. I don't think she'd "bother" doing it if she didn't feel like she had the fitness to do it. A win in 49 low would be a sign of great fitness, but she is probably only interested in doing Pre if she knows she is really, really fit.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 4:47pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

That's a very fast track and she has always fared well there. The organizers will give her any lane she wants. Barring unfavorable weather I'd be surprised if she doesn't break the American record.

And that will once again lead to overboard hype toward the world record

11 months ago 06/23/2025 5:00pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

Still waiting for McLaughlin to compete at a non-U.S. Diamond League meet since being coached by Kersee. Won't venture overseas where USATF can't protect her if she tests positive.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 5:08pm EDT

re: Les

Les wrote:
Still waiting for McLaughlin to compete at a non-U.S. Diamond League meet since being coached by Kersee. Won't venture overseas where USATF can't protect her if she tests positive.

Sydney ran at the 2023 Paris Diamond League meet.

olympics.com

Paris Diamond League 2023: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone finishes in second place in first 400m flat race in 5 years

The world record holder over 400m hurdles takes around three-tenths off her personal best after a strong start but finishes behind Marileidy Paulino.

Open link

11 months ago 06/23/2025 5:12pm EDT

re: Salvitore Stitchmo

Salvitore Stitchmo wrote:
Jonathan Gault wrote:
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is running the Pre Classic for the first time in her career. The race is on July 5 and she will run the flat 400.
If you were wondering what it would take for SML to run America's biggest pro meet, we have the answer: cancel basically all the other US meets around this time -- no Grand Slam Track LA, no USATF NYC Grand Prix, no USATF LA Grand Prix. Bobby Kersee doesn't want SML to go two months without racing ahead of USAs and doesn't like having her go to Europe. Hence, Prefontaine.
Glad she's running it. One of America's biggest track stars will only make the Pre Classic better. Though I'm curious who they will get to face her. She was supposed to race Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser at GST LA. Will they still come to Pre? If so, Pre will have to pay up to get them because the women's 400 is a non-Diamond discipline at Pre this year.
Link:www.preclassic.com/news/olympic-gold-m...
Hahaha, that was good.
My guess is that it's an okay field with the best American Nike contracted 400 runners (Butler, Holmes etc), Isabella Whittaker and one or two from the Caribbean, but ultimately it's set up for SML to run for a time - even though Whittaker could make it interesting. I'd doubt that as a non-DL event there would be many overseas athletes in it, especially ones not sponsored by Nike (bad enough from their perspective the two best in the field will be NB and ON athletes to begin with).

I hope Aaliyah Butler runs and gets her 48, She is AMAZING

11 months ago 06/23/2025 5:26pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

Jonathan Gault wrote:
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is running the Pre Classic for the first time in her career. The race is on July 5 and she will run the flat 400.
If you were wondering what it would take for SML to run America's biggest pro meet, we have the answer: cancel basically all the other US meets around this time -- no Grand Slam Track LA, no USATF NYC Grand Prix, no USATF LA Grand Prix. Bobby Kersee doesn't want SML to go two months without racing ahead of USAs and doesn't like having her go to Europe. Hence, Prefontaine.
Glad she's running it. One of America's biggest track stars will only make the Pre Classic better. Though I'm curious who they will get to face her as they have not announced the rest of the field yet. She was supposed to race Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser at GST LA. Will they still come to Pre? If so, Pre will have to pay up to get them because the women's 400 is a non-Diamond discipline at Pre this year.
Link:www.preclassic.com/news/olympic-gold-m...

She had the opportunity to line up against Paulino, Nasar, Bukowiecka (formerly Kaczmarek), Bol and Irby Jackson at the Golden Spike in Ostrava tomorrow.

400 m
1 YEARGIN Nicole 11.08.1997 GBR 400m W 50.96 51.99 14745764
2 MALÍKOVA Barbara 30.12.2001 CZE 400m W 51.23 52.29 14702587
3 VONDROVA Lada 06.09.1999 CZE 400m W 50.92 51.50 14684777
4 WEIL Martin 12.07.1999 CHI 400m W 49.83 49.83 14748703
5 BOL Femke 23.02.2000 SUN 400m W 49.17 14707010
6 NASER Salwa Eid 23.05.1998 BRN 400m W 48.14 48.67 14643442
7 BUKOWIECKA Natalia 17.01.1998 POLE 400m W 48.90 50.44 14642563
8 IRBY-JACKSON Lynn 06.12.1998 USA 400m W 49.80 49.87 14486888LE

11 months ago 06/23/2025 5:28pm EDT

re: Porfi Altamoreno

Porfi Altamoreno wrote:
Jonathan Gault wrote:
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is running the Pre Classic for the first time in her career. The race is on July 5 and she will run the flat 400.
If you were wondering what it would take for SML to run America's biggest pro meet, we have the answer: cancel basically all the other US meets around this time -- no Grand Slam Track LA, no USATF NYC Grand Prix, no USATF LA Grand Prix. Bobby Kersee doesn't want SML to go two months without racing ahead of USAs and doesn't like having her go to Europe. Hence, Prefontaine.
Glad she's running it. One of America's biggest track stars will only make the Pre Classic better. Though I'm curious who they will get to face her as they have not announced the rest of the field yet. She was supposed to race Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser at GST LA. Will they still come to Pre? If so, Pre will have to pay up to get them because the women's 400 is a non-Diamond discipline at Pre this year.
Link:www.preclassic.com/news/olympic-gold-m...
She had the opportunity to line up against Paulino, Nasar, Bukowiecka (formerly Kaczmarek), Bol and Irby Jackson at the Golden Spike in Ostrava tomorrow.
400 m
1 YEARGIN Nicole 11.08.1997 GBR 400m W 50.96 51.99 14745764
2 MALÍKOVA Barbara 30.12.2001 CZE 400m W 51.23 52.29 14702587
3 VONDROVA Lada 06.09.1999 CZE 400m W 50.92 51.50 14684777
4 WEIL Martin 12.07.1999 CHI 400m W 49.83 49.83 14748703
5 BOL Femke 23.02.2000 SUN 400m W 49.17 14707010
6 NASER Salwa Eid 23.05.1998 BRN 400m W 48.14 48.67 14643442
7 BUKOWIECKA Natalia 17.01.1998 POLE 400m W 48.90 50.44 14642563
8 IRBY-JACKSON Lynn 06.12.1998 USA 400m W 49.80 49.87 14486888LE

Correction: No Paulino.

11 months ago 06/23/2025 5:39pm EDT

re: Jonathan Gault

Hyphenated names suck. What a mouthful.

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