Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has opted to compete in the flat 400 meters, rather than her signature event the 400-meter hurdles at the upcoming Toyota USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, taking place July 31 to August 3.
Although the entry deadline passed early Wednesday morning (2:59 a.m. ET), athletes who missed it can file a late entry appeal, though such approvals are rare, according to USATF.
Among other notable absentees is three-time Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser, who’s been recovering from an elbow injury. However, as the reigning world champion, he has an automatic bye into this year’s World Championships in Tokyo and does not need to compete at nationals. Olympic 400m gold medalist Quincy Hall is also not entered, likely due to injury, but unlike Crouser, he doesn’t hold a world title and therefore risks missing out on worlds.
Earlier this year, McLaughlin-Levrone said she would choose between the flat 400m and the 400m hurdles for nationals, as the scheduling makes doing both nearly impossible the 400m final and hurdles semifinals are just 15 minutes apart.
Typically, the top three finishers at USATF Outdoors earn a spot on the world team, with additional athletes sometimes added for relay events in races like the 100m and 400m.
Though not running the hurdles at nationals, McLaughlin-Levrone could still make the world team in that event by qualifying for and winning the Diamond League Final in Zurich (August 27–28). The World Championships schedule allows for both the 400m and 400m hurdles, as the rounds don’t occur on the same day.
A two-time Olympic champion and six-time world record-breaker in the 400m hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone missed the 2023 World Championships due to injury. She had planned to run the flat 400m there instead. To date, she has never contested the 400m flat at a major global event.
McLaughlin-Levrone is the second-fastest American ever in the flat 400m with a personal best of 48.74 from 2023. Her 2025 season best of 49.43 ranks sixth worldwide this year, behind Americans Aaliyah Butler (49.09), Gabby Thomas (49.14 though she’s skipping the 400m at nationals), and Bella Whittaker (49.24).
In the 400m hurdles, her 2025 best of 52.07 ranks second globally, behind only Dutch star and reigning world champ Femke Bol (51.95). McLaughlin-Levrone last set the world record at the Tokyo Olympics with a blistering 50.37 and hasn’t lost a race in the 400m hurdles since 2019.
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