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September 16, 2025
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone 400m: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone shattered a 19-year-old American record in the 400 meters. The milestone came during Tuesday’s World Athletics Championships semifinal in Tokyo.
She blazed to the finish in 48.29 seconds. Great Britain’s Amber Anning followed at 49.38, more than a full second behind. Both runners advanced automatically to the final.
Their performances stood as the two quickest times of the entire semifinal round. Her run erased her previous best of 48.74 seconds from 2022. It lifted her to seventh on the all-time list.
Most importantly, it broke Sanya Richards-Ross’ American record of 48.70 seconds.
That mark had stood since 2006—exactly 19 years to the day. Her time is also the fastest by any woman this year.
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It firmly places her in the medal hunt with Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic and Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain.
Both are recent world champions and the only women to run faster than McLaughlin-Levrone this century.
“This race gives me a big boost heading into the final,” McLaughlin-Levrone said.
“My goal is to step out there and execute again. I honestly didn’t think I’d run this fast today.
I know I still have more left to give. I feel strong, I feel ready, and I trust my fitness. In the final, I’ll leave it all on the track.”
From Lane 8, she paced herself perfectly.
At halfway, she was two-tenths of a second behind Amber Anning, who was running two lanes inside. Then her strength began to show.
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By the 300-meter mark, she had pulled clear, clocking 35.31 seconds and putting herself more than three-tenths ahead of the field. At the U.S. championships in August, McLaughlin-Levrone captured her second national crown in the 400m.
That victory came with a struggle.
She tightened up in the closing meters and faded to 48.90 seconds. In Tokyo, it was the opposite. She ran with control, easing down before the line, a sign she may have even more speed to unleash in the final.
Choosing the flat 400 at these championships is a bold move. She has built her legacy in the 400m hurdles, where she is a two-time Olympic champion.
She also holds six world records in that event, the most recent set in Paris last summer as she defended her Olympic title. The United States has a rich tradition in the 400 meters.
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No country has earned more success in the event at the world championships.
Four American women have captured individual titles, the latest being Phyllis Francis in 2017.
That year, the U.S. also celebrated a bronze from Allyson Felix to complete a 1-3 finish. McLaughlin-Levrone, only 25, has already built an impressive résumé.
She owns four global medals in the 4x400m relay and is a vital part of the American lineup. She is widely expected to feature in the relay finals this weekend. But first comes the women’s 400m final, the last event on Thursday night’s program.
