Behind a blistering pace and meet record set by Dalilah Muhammed, high school junior Sydney McLaughlin broke the 400 hurdles world junior record and clinched an Olympic berth. Muhammed ran 52.88 to become the No. 5 American performer of all time, Ashley Spencer finished second after running three full rounds in the 400 and the 400 hurdles, and McLaughlin ran 54.15 to break the decade-old world junior record.
Muhammed torched the field early, but McLaughlin was part of a large group fighting for the last two spots over the last three hurdles. Spencer grabbed second out of lane seven and McLaughlin, in the middle of the track, beat Kori Carter by 0.3 for the last ticket to Rio.
Sydney is indeed going to Rio!
Don’t say “torched the field” when you’re talking about a Muhammed!