Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone steps into the blocks—no show, only focus. At Tokyo on August 4, 2021, she took gold in 51.46 seconds, breaking the world record. At the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, she smashed it again with 50.68 seconds. Then, on August 8, 2024, in Paris, she defended her Olympic title and obliterated the record with 50.37 seconds. No drama—just precise execution. But is she not doing the hurdles in her next? The rumors were there, but was there any truth to them?
The 2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships are scheduled to take place at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, in Eugene, from Thursday, July 31, to Sunday, August 3, 2025. The event that is to serve as the qualifiers for the World Athletics Championships in September is closing its doors for athletes today, July 22. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has announced where she will be showcasing her strides.
“ 400m hurdles Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has officially decided to only contest the 400m at the upcoming U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships,” CITIUS MAG confirmed in an Instagram post on July 22nd, 2025.
The question here is why? As Anderson Emerole said in one of his recent videos, “Sydney ran 48.74 seconds at USA’s in 2023. She ran 48.75 seconds last year at the New York Grand Prix. She has come so close every single time. And Prefontaine didn’t go well. Ed Murphy Classic, she wanted to go for it there, but she got sick, so she wasn’t able to compete there. I think that is one of her sole goals.“Levrone is going after the 400m American record, which she has come close to.
The current U.S. women’s record in the flat 400 m stands at 48.70 seconds, set by Sanya Richards‑Ross on September 17, 2006, at the Athens Grand Prix. Levrone was close to breaking it when she clocked the 48.74, but faith had it plan. She was in the 2023 World Championships for 400m, and she might have broken the world record. But then the hurdler had to sit out of it because of a minor knee injury. The announcement came on August 11, 2023, just days before the meet. Coming back to the 400m in the 2025 USAs could be her trying to finish that unfinished business. Then there’s also another side of her trying to take on challenges.
Grand Slam Track In Philadelphia – Day Two PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES JUNE 1: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States is seen after finishing the Women s 100 Meters, part of the Women s Short Hurdles group, on Day Two of the Grand Slam Track Series at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, on June 1, 2025. Philadelphia United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xSTRx originalFilename:str-grandsla250601_np2ly.jpg
The athlete had enjoyed the thrill of new challenges this season, debuting in the 100 m flat at Philadelphia GST, clocking an impressive 11.21s to place second and diving into the 100 m hurdles, finishing 5th in 12.70s at the same event. “Marileidy Paulino seems unbeatable this year. Naser is also next to Paulino looking unstoppable,” highlighted Emerole. Both Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser have been absolutely dominating the 2025 season in the women’s 400 m. Paulino clinched victory at Philadelphia’s GST, blazing to a meet-record 49.12 s while sweeping both the 200 m and 400 m titles.
Meanwhile, Naser unleashed a world-leading 48.67 s at Kingston’s Grand Slam opener, setting both a stadium and GST record and leaving the field in her wake. Sydney would love to go head-to-head against them, and her 400mh opponent might be somewhat happy that now there are chances for them as well.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s absence opens up the gate for Dalilah Muhammad and Co
Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone hasn’t been beaten in a 400 m hurdles race since the 2019 World Championships final, held on October 4, 2019, in Doha. In that race, she finished second to Dalilah Muhammad, with a time of 52.23 s compared to Muhammad’s 52.16s. Since then, she has won every 400 m hurdles race she’s entered, compiled a 12-race winning streak, set multiple world records, and claimed her 2024 Olympic title with a historic time of 50.37s. Her absence creates a clear opening for Dalilah Muhammad and the rest of the field to reclaim dominance in the 400m hurdles.
She began strongly with a second-place finish in Kingston (54.59 s) and a win in Gaborone (53.81 s), then reached peak form on the Diamond League. On June 12 in Oslo, she claimed victory in 53.34 s. A few days later in Stockholm (June 15), she clocked 52.91 s, breaking the 39-year-old W35 Masters world record of 52.94s. Her latest Diamond League appearance came in Monaco on July 11, where she shaved off another 0.33 seconds, lowering the W35 world record to 52.58 s, which also dipped under the previous Monaco meet record.
Anna Cockrell kicked off the year with a dominating 54.04s win at Philadelphia’s Grand Slam Track—setting a Franklin Field facility record and taking home prize money. She peaked with a 52.91s in Monaco on July 11, ranking her 6th globally and firmly among the season’s elite . Jasmine Jones claimed second place behind Cockrell at Philadelphia, clocking 54.65s. These two can also show up in the Olympic gold medalist’s absence. What do you think?
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