World Champs Women’s 400 — SML Downs 42-Year-Old MR

As she laid down history’s No. 2 all-time lap, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone built an imposing margin on Marileidy Paulino’s No. 3 all-time performance. (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT)

A KNEE INJURY kept Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone from contesting the world title in the 400 back in ’23. That year, after she won the USATF title in 48.74, she was forced to cancel the rest of the season.

This time around, the 26-year-old was not going to be denied. She hammered the American Record twice in overcoming one of the biggest challenges she has yet faced, winning the gold in the No. 2 performance ever, 47.78.

In doing so, she had to defeat the two giants of the event, Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser. Paulino, the Olympic champion from the Dominican Republic, was the defending world champion. Naser, the ’19 gold medalist for Bahrain, won the silver in Paris. Naser stood No. 3 on the all-time list at 48.14; Paulino’s 48.17 put her at No. 4. McLaughlin-Levrone’s best of 48.74 from ’23 left her a bit behind.

SML fired the first salvo in the heats on Sunday with a 49.41. Naser responded with a 49.13, while Paulino coasted to a 49.85. Also of note, Jamaica’s Stacy Ann Williams ran a PR 49.59, and Nickisha Pryce and Wadeline Venlogh (née Jonathas) both ran 49.91. The time was a Haitian Record for Venlogh.

In the semis on Tuesday, Paulino eased up to a 49.82 in the first section, Poland’s Natalia Bukowiecka passing her in 49.67. In the second, Naser led in 49.47. SML ran in the third and chased Amber Anning for the first half before finishing comfortably ahead. The result: a stunning 48.29 that sliced 0.41 from the American Record that Sanya Richards-Ross set 19 years ago in winning the World Cup.

In the grand finale on Thursday night the showdown was absent the other two Americans, Bella Whittaker and Aaliyah Butler, who did not get out of the semis. In a light rain, McLaughlin-Levrone started in 5, with the advantage of keying off Naser (7) and Paulino (9).

Fans used to seeing the Bahraini start the fastest saw the American ahead of her at 100, 11.71–11.84, with Paulino at 11.92. McLaughlin-Levrone hit 22.95 at halfway. Paulino started a strong drive on the backstretch and moved into 2nd with her 23.09. Naser ran 3rd in 23.13.

The race got even closer on the final turn. SML still led in 34.87, but Paulino (34.97) and Naser (35.00) were not letting up. As they hit the straight, Paulino appeared to draw even. McLaughlin-Levrone had to dig deeper than ever, fighting for every stride as she regained control and drove to the line in 47.78, crushing her AR by 0.61 and breaking Jarmila Kratochvílová’s MR 47.99 from the first Worlds in ’83. The clock stopped just 0.18 shy of Marita Koch’s 47.60 WR set 40 years ago.

Paulino crossed in 47.98, a new NR and the No. 3 time in history. Naser’s 48.19 for bronze was the No. 9 performance in history, and her fastest since her Doha win. Bukowiecka won the race of the rest, clocking 49.27 in 4th, ahead of Amber Anning (49.36) and the Cuban Record 49.48 by Roxana Gómez.

It was the first race ever with 2 under 48, and the second time (after the Paris Olympics) that 8 had broken 50. For places 2-3-4-6-7, the best-ever marks were recorded.

“It definitely helps to have someone pushing you, because that’s kind of what it’s going to take, especially in a race like this,” said the victor. “It really just was a matter of putting the pieces together and running my race.”

Said Paulino, “I have been consistent over the last five years. That is like a win for me.”

“After tonight’s race I can see that the World Record is around the corner,” predicted Naser.

WOMEN’S 400 RESULTS

FINAL (September 18)

1. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (US) 47.78 AR (old AR 48.29 McLaughlin-Levrone in semis) (WL) (2, 2 W) (MR)

(11.71, 11.24 [22.95], 11.92 [34.87], 12.91) (22.95/24.83);

2. Marileidy Paulino (DR) 47.98 NR (3, 3 W)

(11.92, 11.17 [23.09], 11.88 [34.97], 13.01) (23.09/24.89);

3. Salwa Eid Naser (Bhr) 48.19 (x, 9 W)

(11.84, 11.29 [23.13], 11.87 [35.00], 13.19) (23.13/25.06);

4. Natalia Bukowiecka (Pol) 49.27

(12.01, 11.37 [23.38], 12.47 [35.85], 13.42) (23.38/25.89);

5. Amber Anning (GB) 49.36

(11.99, 11.46 [23.45], 12.47 [35.92], 13.44) (23.45/25.91);

6. Roxana Gómez (Cub) 49.48 NR

(12.49, 11.48 [23.97], 12.26 [36.13], 13.35) (23.97/25.91);

7. Henriette Jæger (Nor) 49.74

(12.21, 11.60 [23.81], 12.31 [36.12], 13.62) (23.81/25.93);

8. Nickisha Pryce (Jam) 49.97

(12.08, 11.51 [23.59], 12.40 [35.99], 13.98) (23.59/26.38).

(best-ever mark-for-place: 2–4, 6–7)

(lanes: 2. Pryce; 3. Jaeger; 4. Gomez; 5. McLaughlin-Levrone; 6. Anning; 7. Naser; 8. Bukowiecka; 9. Paulino)

(reaction times: 0.148 Jaeger, 0.158 Pryce, 0.168 Bukowiecka, 0.171 McLaughlin-Levrone, 0.175 Anning, 0.183 Paulino, 0.189 Naser, 0.195 Gomez)

HEATS (September 14)

I–1. Lieke Klaver (Neth) 50.32; 2. Bella Whittaker (US) 50.82; 3. Dejanea Oakley (Jam) 51.07; 4. Lauren Gale (Can) 51.56; 5. Alice Mangione (Ita) 51.70; 6. Mette Baas (Fin) 51.92; 7. Vimbayi Maisvorewa (Zim) 52.28; 8. Ellie Beer (Aus) 52.31.

II–1. Wadeline Venlogh (Hai) 49.91 NR; 2. Bukowiecka 50.16; 3. Aaliyah Butler (US) 50.44; 4. Sada Williams (Bar) 50.93; 5. Leni Shida (Uga) 51.61; 6. Myrte Van Der Schoot (Neth) 52.19; 6. Zoe Sherar (Can) 52.19; 8. Miranda Coetzee (SA) 57.78.

III–1. McLaughlin-Levrone 49.41; 2. Martina Weil (Chl) 50.61; 3. Mercy Oketch (Ken) 50.76; 4. Sharlene Mawdsley (Ire) 51.04; 5. Caitlyn Bobb (Ber) 51.72; 6. Eveline Saalberg (Neth) 51.73; 7. Javonya Valcourt (Bah) 52.00; 8. Tiffani Marinho (Bra) 53.34; 9. Esther Mayadjim (Cha) 56.35.

IV–1. Pryce 49.91; 2. Jæger 50.12; 3. Gómez 50.35; 4. Printassia Johnson (Bah) 50.53 PR; 5. Yemi Mary John (GB) 50.71; 6. Lada Vondrová (CzR) 51.90; 7. Dianna Proctor (Can) 51.98; 8. Gabby Scott (PR) 52.55.

V–1. Naser 49.13; 2. Stacey-Ann Williams (Jam) 49.59 PR; 3. Andrea Miklos (Rom) 50.96; 4. Victoria Ohuruogu (GB) 51.37; 5. Anna Polinari (Ita) 51.55; 6. Shirley Nekhubui (SA) 51.82; 7. Nanako Matsumoto (Jpn) 52.41; 8. Nadeesha Ramanayake (SrL) 53.63; 9. Evelyn Aguilar (Col) 53.82.

VI–1. Paulino 49.85; 2. Anning 49.96; 3. Bassant Hemida (Egy) 50.36 NR; 4. Paula Sevilla (Spa) 50.69 PR; 5. Justyna Święty-Ersetic (Pol) 51.80; 6. Sophie Becker (Ire) 52.19; 7. Veronika Drljačić (Cro) 52.67; 8. Susanne Gogl-Walli (Aut) 52.92; 9. Samira Awal (Nig) 52.99.

SEMIS (September 16)

I–1. Bukowiecka 49.67; 2. Paulino 49.82; 3. Jæger 49.87; 4. Williams 50.39; 5. Butler 50.63; 6. Venlogh 50.67; 7. Oakley 51.42; 8. John 51.51.

II–1. Naser 49.47; 2. Gómez 49.78; 3. Whittaker 50.20; 4. Klaver 50.25; 5. Williams 50.39; 6. Johnson 50.81; 7. Oketch 51.36; 8. Ohuruogu 51.65.

III–1. McLaughlin-Levrone 48.29 AR (old AR 48.70 Sanya Richards-Ross [Nike] ’06) (WL) (7, 11 W)

(11.98, 11.45 [23.43], 11.88 [35.31], 12.98) (23.43/24.86);

2. Anning 49.38; 3. Pryce 49.46; 4. Weil 49.88; 5. Hemida 50.69; 6. Miklos 50.90; 7. Sevilla 50.97; 8. Mawdsley 51.22.

Jeff Hollobaugh is a writer and stat geek who has been associated with T&FN in various capacities since 1987. He is the author of How To Race The Mile. He lives in Michigan where he can often be found announcing track meets in bad weather.

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