Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sets American record in 400m semis - ESPN

TOKYO — One record down, and maybe one more to go for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

McLaughlin-Levrone finished her 400-meter semifinal at the world championships Tuesday in 48.29 seconds, shattering a 19-year-old American mark held by Sanya Richards-Ross by .41 seconds.

It was the fastest time of 2025, the seventh fastest time ever, and it makes the thought of breaking the 40-year-old record of 47.60 seem totally possible in the final Thursday.

«Honored, for sure,» McLaughlin-Levrone said about breaking the U.S. record she's been targeting since she moved over from the hurdles. «I definitely wasn't expecting that time. It just shows the fitness is there. I'm excited for the finals and grateful to have taken down a record by an amazing woman.»

Richards-Ross, the best American 400 runner of her generation, set the record of 48.70 in 2006 and won the 400 at the London Olympics six years later.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone with a PB, World lead & US National record time in the 400m (48.29)...

Oh, and it was in a semifinal.