Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Returns to Hayward Field—But This Time, No Hurdles Read Full News 🗞️ 👇👇👇

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Returns to Hayward Field—But This Time, No Hurdles

Read Full News 🗞️ 👇👇👇

 

**Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone Returns to Hayward Field — But This Time, No Hurdles**

🌟 *The Olympic and world-record 400m hurdles champion makes a striking comeback in the flat 400m at the Prefontaine Classic*

 

**Eugene, Oregon – July 5, 2025** — In a powerful twist at the 50th Prefontaine Classic, **Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone**, the reigning Olympic and world-record holder in the 400m hurdles, returned to **Hayward Field** — not over barriers, but on the open track, competing in the **flat 400 meters** for the first time at this iconic venue since 2023. ([preclassic.com][1])

 

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### 🎯 A Bold Shift: Flat 400m Debut at Hayward

 

McLaughlin‑Levrone, who previously ran a PB of **48.74s** in the 400m at Hayward Field during the 2023 USATF Championships, embraced a fresh challenge: a non‑Diamond League 400m event at the Prefontaine Classic. ([preclassic.com][1])

 

She dominated the race, crossing the line in a blistering **49.43 seconds**, well ahead of Aaliyah Butler’s 49.86s — underscoring her incredible speed and versatility. ([en.wikipedia.org][2])

 

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### 🔄 Beyond the Hurdles

 

Known for shattering the 400m hurdles world record multiple times — most recently setting an Olympic mark of **50.37s** in Paris 2024 — McLaughlin‑Levrone has now proven her prowess extends to flat sprinting. Her successful pivot to the 400m flat adds a new dimension to an already extraordinary career. ([en.wikipedia.org][3])

 

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### 🏅 What This Means for Her Legacy

 

At just 25, she’s already a four‑time Olympic gold medallist and a dominant force in global hurdles. But her performance at Hayward Field shows she’s not content with boundaries — literally or figuratively. McLaughlin‑Levrone’s time of **49.43s** places her among the world’s elite 400m runners this year. 

 

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### 🔮 The Road Ahead

 

With the **Paris 2024 Olympic spotlight behind her**, Sydney’s focus now seems to expand beyond her signature hurdles event. Reaction to her flat 400m debut suggests a star eyeing more than hurdle glory — potentially shaping her as one of the most dynamic and versatile sprinters in history.

 

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**Final Word**

 

Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone’s return to Hayward Field — this time without hurdles — isn’t just a performance change. It’s a statement: **true greatness transcends event lines**, and she’s proving she’s more than just a champion — she’s a force of nature.