Sydney McLaughlin no 400 meter hurdles?

Focus on speed, power, explosiveness and high hurdle technique that will eventually help her 400IH. Her freshman year won't be full of expectations and added stress. Yes, long term development.

No Olympics or World Championships in 2018. Seems like a great year to enjoy the sport and compete in a few other events.

I think it is actually a great idea for her to try out other events over the next season or two. She's a phenomenal talent and could have success at just about any event she wants. Better to see where else her talents lie now instead of waiting until she signs that pro contract in the summer of 2019. By then, Nike or whoever would probably want a more established idea of what events she'll be focusing on in the lead-up to the 2020 games.

FYI, she was an excellent long jumpers and high hurdle in HS, these are not new events for her.

werwe wrote:

No Olympics or World Championships in 2018. Seems like a great year to enjoy the sport and compete in a few other events.

Exactly, it's like the bizarro world Ashton Eaton project.

Seems pretty awesome her coaches are this open minded. Maybe she'll develop into an amazing heptathlete?

What would earn her more money, a star sprinter or star heptathlete? I'm guessing sprinter since she would compete more often?

I still don't believe she isn't going pro. Companies have to be willing to offer her really decent money right now, no guarantee her performance lasts, take the money and worry about college later.

I hope she doesn't miss out on a big $ contract like German Fernandez did.

German got manipulated into believing 'waiting was better.'

Now he's making 1,000 a month as a GA.

The crazy part is that WR 100H holder Keni Harrison (same coach, new training partner) will switch to 400H. Floreal may prove to be a genius or a fool.

Her hurdle form is not very good. She gets by on raw talent. Once they tighten up her technique, she will prosper...provided she doesn't catch a cold.

Coach wrote:

FYI, she was an excellent long jumpers and high hurdle in HS, these are not new events for her.

Sounds good in theory , won't be so good in real life. Anything short of an NCAA TITLE will be a disappointment and I don't see that happening in new events. She will be one and done, for less cash then she could get this year. One of her advisors should look back at Alan Webb's one year st U.of M.

Puhleease wrote:

Her hurdle form is not very good. She gets by on raw talent. Once they tighten up her technique, she will prosper...provided she doesn't catch a cold.

Coach wrote:

FYI, she was an excellent long jumpers and high hurdle in HS, these are not new events for her.

Good form or not she was a good high hurdler in HS. Imagine how good her form will be afterfocusing on the Sprint hurdles

She needs to go pro. Nice young lady with the ability to sell almost every product under the sun. I have never before thought that high school phenoms should go pro, but in this case the girl has movie star good looks and could earn millions. I work in advertising and I can tell you that a year away at sleepaway college is a mistake. Would love to see her get a seven figure contract AND be an olympic gold medalist. It can be done with the right guidance.

just doo it wrote:

She needs to go pro. Nice young lady with the ability to sell almost every product under the sun. I have never before thought that high school phenoms should go pro, but in this case the girl has movie star good looks and could earn millions. I work in advertising and I can tell you that a year away at sleepaway college is a mistake. Would love to see her get a seven figure contract AND be an olympic gold medalist. It can be done with the right guidance.

Totally agree with you. Look at Missy Franklin in swimming, should have cashed in when she had the chance.

Hounddogharrier wrote:

Sounds good in theory , won't be so good in real life. Anything short of an NCAA TITLE will be a disappointment and I don't see that happening in new events. She will be one and done, for less cash then she could get this year. One of her advisors should look back at Alan Webb's one year st U.of M.

I'm inclined to agree. Its hard to get better at "X" by focusing on "Y". To think the fastest ever HS 300 hurdler will be well served by focusing on other events seems misguided.

Maybe Mondo ought to focus on high jump for a year or so?

If it pays off of course I'll be happy for her.

Not going pro or being able to try different events freshman year may seem crazy to some. But you really need to know both the athlete and the family to understand what their long term goals are (developing a grounded, God-fearing, upstanding member of society). The "take the $$ and run" approach may be good for some...but not for all. Before entering that "pro" lifestyle you need to be prepared to deal with all that comes with it...good and bad.

Sprinters are usually more of a sure thing than distance runners so I'd say it's safe to wait to go pro.

If I had to guess the plan would be focus on odd events next year and enjoy freshman year. Stay in college and focus more on 400 hurdles sophomore year but maybe if some of the off events were good enough keep doing those. Then if things appear to be going awesome go pro after 2019 NCAA's where she has presumably done well. Then she would hope to qualify to worlds as a new pro in multiple events the year before the Olympics starting the hype for what could be a very successful and marketable 2020 Olympics.

Also Tara Davis going to be in the same boat, super fast and will be very marketable.

Remember bronze medalist for the 400 hurdles Ashley Spencer focused on the flat 400 in college. Either way Sydney will be successful at what she does big talent all around.

This. Those intermediates are going to feel so low when she makes the move back.