Track Phenom Sydney McLaughlin Has Turned Pro
by LetsRun.com
June 9, 2018
After winning her first NCAA title in the 400m hurdles at the 2018 NCAA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, University of Kentucky freshman Sydney McLaughlin announced she is turning professional.
McLaughlin, who ran for the United States in the 400m hurdles at the Rio Olympics as a high schooler, had a tremendous freshman year improving in every event she ran.
Sydney McLaughlin on her way to first NCAA title
Indoor she ran 50.36 for 400m which would have been the American record if minutes before Kendall Ellis didn’t run a new American record of 50.34. McLaughlin’s time was a new world junior record.
Outdoors, McLaughlin, who originally was not going to run the hurdles this year, ran 50.07 for 400m and then ran the #9 time ever at 400m hurdles 52.75 (world record is 52.34). She also ran a wind aided 11.07 and a legal 22.39 for kicks.
Despite those accomplishments she had never won an NCAA title until Saturday when she captured the 400m hurdles in 53.96.
Interview with McLaughlin below where she announces she’s going pro.
McLaughlin’s PRs
| 200 | 400 | 400h | |
| Prior to this year | 22.96w | 51.61i | 53.82 |
| This year | 22.39 | 50.07 | 52.75 |
stats from http://www.tilastopaja.eu/