51.61 HS 400 record by Sydney McLaughlin!

Sub 2? Ya, ok.

I mean all you really need is 2 59.9 400's

Dude, that's like telling Van Nierk all you need is 2 back to back 50 sec 400m's. If she could run sub-2 I assure you she would be running the 800m as much as the 400m. Maybe 2:05, but not sub 2.

I could obviously be wrong but just saying bro.

That would have been more than 0.5 seconds away from silver at NCAA.

wowwza wrote:

So Sydney McLaughlin just ran a blazing fast 400. What do you think she could go for the 8? I say sub 2.

Nah. 2:07 at best. But what was truly impressive about her run was how even her splits were (25.38/26.23)

Yes, Clarity is spot on. Obviously it was a very impressive race, but even more so when you look at the splits. She essentially ran the same first lap as she ran in the prelim yesterday. But her second lap today was off the charts. Not to mention, totally smooth and controlled.

If she stays healthy, takes a long term approach, and keeps her mental side as solid as it is now, no telling where her limits might be. Probably the biggest long sprint talent we've seen in a long time.

Clarity wrote:

wowwza wrote:

So Sydney McLaughlin just ran a blazing fast 400. What do you think she could go for the 8? I say sub 2.

Nah. 2:07 at best. But what was truly impressive about her run was how even her splits were (25.38/26.23)

Being a 400h rather than just a pure 400 runner I'd give her a few more seconds. Looks like in a pro race she might have been closer to 51 flat with a bit more aggressive first 200.

wowwza wrote:

So Sydney McLaughlin just ran a blazing fast 400. What do you think she could go for the 8? I say sub 2.

Sub-2, now way.

Sydney is a sprinter.

Most 51x 400m runners will usually run about 2:07/8 at some point in practice; I guess maybe 2:04/5 if she ran the 800 in a meet and gave it a real effort. The problem is getting a true sprinter to give the 800 a true effort, their aerobic system is weak and once they enter the aerobic zone, you can call it a day.

I think she could very easily break 2. But I hope she doesn't run the 8 and just focuses on the 400H and 400.

The 10th best NCAA indoor performance is 50.94. Sydney is 0.67 away from that.

Only 4 NCAA 800m "specialists" have run sub 2 outdoors. 10th is 2:00.63

Why would Sydney be better than 800m specialists? Her 400m is not that fast when compared to NCAA runners.

I would be surprised if she could go sub 2:03.

2:03.86

Definitely not. When I first went 1:59 in HS I could run a 50.6, and I was a 400/800 guy. She is centered around 300/400. No way she can break 2, maybe 2:07.

For some perspective on top 400 female runners, Annaliese Ruby is a 400/800 runner from Australia that primarily focuses on the 400. She has a 51.69 PB (only 0.08 off Sydney so very comparable) and has run a 2:02.52 800.

Sydney is more speed based, so I'd put her at 2:05 in current form. If she trained for it she definitely has 1:57 potential

she's not a 400m runner.

she's a 400 meter hurdler.

400m hurdlers have always had a lot more strength than 400m runners.

with that said, i don't think she can break two now... but wouldn't be surprised if she were similar to a raevyn rodgers if that were her focus.

speaking of strength.

she ran her 400m like a true strength runner.

25.4 / 26.2

she's a strength runner.

Who cares. She's smoking hot

Lordey wrote:

Who cares. She's smoking hot

...I was waiting for it

This thread is a nice opportunity to discuss an exciting 400m hurdler, who also does several other events. Why are we discussing an event she does not do and apparently has no interest in. She has not even shown interest in the 500 or 600, the 800 is probably out of the question.

TrackCoach wrote:

This thread is a nice opportunity to discuss an exciting 400m hurdler, who also does several other events. Why are we discussing an event she does not do and apparently has no interest in. She has not even shown interest in the 500 or 600, the 800 is probably out of the question.

Even though I'm sure she could have challenged the 500m and 600m records. 800m is asking way too much.

Since you brought up her pet event, I'll go out on a limb and make an insane prediction of my own: by 2020, Sydney will have demolished Pechonkina's WR, running a sub 52. 51.88 is my guess.