At Friday’s Edwin Moses Legends Meet in Atlanta, world-record holder and Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran the 400-meter hurdles in a season-opening 52.70 seconds, marking her return to competition after over 22 months.
In 2024, the 24-year-old returned to her speciality event after focusing on the 400-meter flat in 2023. There, she missed the World Championships owing to injury. She sets a new career-best time in her comeback to the event.
Femke Bol, the reigning 400-meter hurdles world champion, will kick off her season on Sunday in the Stockholm Diamond League with a mark of 52.70, the best time recorded so far this year.
“It’s a progression,” said McLaughlin-Levrone. “After two years of inactivity, I’ll settle for a 52.7. With so little hurdle practice, there is still a long way to go.”
In second place, 17-year-old Michelle Smith set the Virgin Islands record in 55.96 seconds. Another notable event was the 100-meter hurdles competition. In this, Olympic silver medalist Kendra Harrison won in 12.60 seconds, just beating off Michelle Atherley (12.63 PB) and Christina Clemons (12.65).
Quanera Hayes finished second behind Kendall Ellis in the 400-meter dash with a time of 50.88. Meanwhile, Christopher Bailey broke the 45-second mark in the men’s event with a win in 44.42. Tamara Clark beat Celera Barnes to win the 100 metres in 11.04 seconds, while Audrey Leduc won the 200 metres in 22.36 seconds, setting a new Canadian record.
