2. Sydney McLaughlin (NJ) - 400H Champ & Anchor Leg on Swedish Relay & 4x400 Champs
Two 51 second 400 meter anchor legs and a US #2 all-time individual performance in the 400 meter hurdles is not enough for Union Catholic (NJ) sophomore Sydney McLaughlin to be the #1 performer of the 2015 New Balance Nationals? How can that be? Yes. The meet was that good.
McLaughlin did put on a show in all three races that stepped on the track and delivered two national titles for her teammates on relays. Their 1000 meter swedish relay repeated as national champions with a 51.2 second anchor leg, while her 4x400 meter relay improved upon their national leading time in the event with a US #4 all-time performance of 3:35.90. The national record in the event is 3:35.49, so McLaughlin and her teammates certainly threatened it.
In her lone individual event of the weekends in her specialty of the 400 meter hurdles, McLaughlin repeated as national champ with a sophomore national class record time of 55.87 to break her own meet record. The national record of 55.20 is still dangling out there for McLaughlin, who could break it this summer before she gets to her junior year.
MileSplit counts down the top 15 girls individual performers from the 2015 New Balance Nationals:
15. Ashleigh Reisch (OH) - Racewalk Champ
14. Haley Showalter (CO) - Hammer Throw Champ
13. Twanisha Terry (FL) - 100m Runner-up & Leg on 4x100m & 4x200m Champs
12. Weeks Twins (AR) - Pole Vault Champ & Runner-Up
11. Kiara Williams (AL) - Triple Jump Champ
10. Kaylee Antill (OH) - Discus Champ
9. Sharrika Barnett (FL) - 400m Champ
8. Nicole Greene (FL) - High Jump Champ
7. Sophia Rivera (MO) - Shot Put & Javelin Champ
6. Jayla Kirkland (AL) - 100 & 200m Champ
5. Tia Jones (GA) - 100H Champ
4. Sammy Watson (NY) - 800m Champ & Anchor Leg on SMR Champs (National Record)
3. Ryen Frazier (NC) - 5K, 2 Mile, & Mile Champ
2. Sydney McLaughlin (NJ) - 400H Champ & Anchor Leg on Swedish Relay & 4x400 Champs
1. Kate Hall (ME) - Long Jump Champ (National Record)