New event. Same old Sydney McLaughlin-Levron.
McLaughlin-Levron cruised to the women’s 400m semi-finals in 49.41 at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 on Sunday (14 September).
Making her worlds debut in the 400m flat, the two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion won her heat without much of a challenge, taking her foot off the pedal well before the finish for the second best time of the heats.
“It’s amazing to be back to Tokyo,” said McLaughlin-Levrone, who won the first of her two golds here at Tokyo’s National Stadium.
“I was focused on the first half of the race tonight and ran it well. I did it relaxed.”
World leader Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain led the 24 semi-finalists with a mark of 49.13. Jamaica’s Stacy Williams was third overall with a personal best of 49.59.
The top three from each of the six heats went through plus the six fastest times advanced.