Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone claimed her second national title in the 400 m flat at the U.S. Track & Field Trials today, delivering a standout season’s best of 48.90 seconds. In a strategic shift from her signature 400 m hurdles, McLaughlin‑Levrone opted to compete in the 400m flat with eyes set on competing in that event at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo .
From the start, she asserted control taking the lead shortly after 100 m and extending it over the remainder of the race. Her winning time fell just 0.20 seconds shy of the American record held since 2006 by Sanya Richards‑Ross, underscoring how close she is to rewriting the flat sprint history books .
Following McLaughlin-Levrone, Georgia juniors Isabella Whittaker (49.59) and Aaliyah Butler (49.91) rounded out the podium in second and third places respectively, both earning qualification marks for the world championships .
This victory marks her second U.S. national title in the open 400m she previously won in 2023 at Eugene, Oregon in 48.74 seconds, which made her the second-fastest American ever at the time .
Her decision to compete in the flat event rather than her usual hurdle discipline drew attention, but provided a powerful statement of her versatility. Despite being the world-record holder and reigning Olympic champion in the 400 m hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone has strategically expanded her focus, elevating her competitiveness in straight sprints and positioning herself as a multi-event threat on the global stage .
With this triumph, McLaughlin-Levrone cements her place on the U.S. team for Tokyo this September and adds emphasize to her ambition of vying for gold across both flat and hurdle disciplines.
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