Sydney McLaughlin 50.52 400

YMMV wrote:

https://twitter.com/AthleticsGif/status/967914331819139072

Thank you for the link to the race

TrackCoach wrote:

YMMV wrote:

Her split was 23.75, so 23.75/26.77. She has some headroom in the event just from evening out the pace.

Thanks for your correction on the splits; can't believe I missed the clock showing the split. When I was in H.S., I was running 49x going out around 24 flat. Btw, it wasn't just her 200m split, she started like she was in a 60m dash, which is not how she normally runs the 400. You can't say someone ran a bad race when they are the SEC champ as a freshman, but I would have let Irby have the break and passed going into or coming off the final turn. After re-watching the race, it's apparent that Sydney wasn't just interested in winning, she had a time goal as well.

NCAA will be insane, because they won't be going for time, but Irby clearly likes to get out hot, putting pressure on Sydney to either get out faster than optimal as she did here, or like you said, let Irby have the pole at the bell. Ellis and Barnett are a second back, but if Irby and McG get out a bit slower there could be congestion, like we saw at USATF men's 400 a week ago.

This and the women's mile will be potentially historic.

YMMV wrote:

https://twitter.com/AthleticsGif/status/967914331819139072

Thanks for the video. Didn't realize that Irby went out so fast as well. Irby held her form at the end pretty well.

vivalarepublica wrote:

YMMV wrote:

https://twitter.com/AthleticsGif/status/967914331819139072

Thanks for the video. Didn't realize that Irby went out so fast as well. Irby held her form at the end pretty well.

You can see that up to 15 sec they are even (and perfectly synchronized!), then Sydney puts in a surge to keep Irby behind her. That move caught up to her before the line and may have cost both of them sub-50.

WatchedIt wrote:

Sydney was tying up big time and the second place girl nearly caught her.

Nearly is never enough.

She muscled her way in, but she was also backing it off. She still won by enough. She'll go faster next time. This was a learner for her.

Who am I to question Coach Floreal, but personally, if someone one wants to go out in sub-24, I would give them the break. That race may have done Sydney in for the season, Sydney was completely lactic the last couple of strides; lactic to the point where she could barely keep her legs under her. And, she usually runs really fast relay splits and she looked spent on the 4x4. I wish Sydney all of the best, but I have watched many freshman phenoms go for a home run at the conference meet and then bomb at the Championships. I would love to be wrong, but I would not be surprised if Sydney underperforms at the NCAAs.

I fear you may be right.

On the other hand, she is already an Olympian, 400H at that. She is durable as hell.... so far.

Well she's possibly doubling with 400 and 200 at NCAA's plus 4x4.

I mentioned this earlier but I remember reading that Sydney would be focusing on her speed this year and have more fun. If so then it isn't a shock that she tied up so badly. She's probably peaking for August unlike the typical college freshman.