Over the weekend at New Balance National Indoor New Jersey track star Sydney McLaughlin achieved a season long goal in the 400 meter dash. The Union Catholic junior not only won her fourth individual national title but set the national high school record in the 400 meter event running 51.84.
The previous record was held by Francena McCorory of Bethel, BA who ran 51.93 in 2006 at Nationals.
Video Interview with Sydney above conducted by MileSplit National Editor Johanna Gretschel.
Even more impressive is that McLaughlin wasn't done there, returning not even an hour later to anchor Union Catholic national championship 4x400 meter squad taking them from fifth to first with a split of 51.65!! She was still in third a few steps behind on the final straightway before turning on the jets to seal a victory. The squad which won with a overall time of 3:40.28 was made of up Tia Livingston 56.41, Amari Onque-Shabbazz 54.80, Cassandra Lamadieu 57.43, and McLaughlin 51.65.
She is also known for her dominance in the hurdles, winning the 2015 national indoor title with an 8.30 in the 60 meter hurdles, but as stated in the interview above a groin injury led her to focus on the 400 meter dash alone this season. The decision paid off with another national title as well as the record while keeping her fresh and healed up for outdoors where she plans to return to the 400 meter hurdles at the least. If you didn't know she is already a World Youth Champion in that event.
- Sydney McLaughlin's Career Stats
- 2016 NB Nationals Indoor 400 Meter Full Results
- August Interview with McLaughlin on her World Youth Championships Experience
- McLaughlin's Performance Graph for Indoor 400 Meter Dash Times
- Full Results from New Balance Nationals Indoor
Sydney McLaughlin's Individual Indoor Season
| 51.84 | 400m | NB Nationals | 03/13/16 | 1st | Finals |
| 52.77 | 400m | NB Nationals | 03/12/16 | 1st | Prelims |
| 24.00 | 200m | Eastern States | 03/01/16 | 1st | Prelims |
| 53.34 | 400m | NJSIAA MOCs | 02/27/16 | 1st | Finals |
| 54.36 | 400m | NJSIAA Groups | 02/20/16 | 1st | Finals |
| 24.19 | 200m | North Shore Invite | 02/12/16 | 1st | Finals |
| 53.87 | 400m | North Shore Invite | 02/12/16 | 1st | Finals |
More on the State Record 4x400 Meter National Title
Video interview above with the Union Catholic squad and top finishing teams with splits below.
The Union Catholic squad ran the second fastest time in US history with their 3:40.28 and broke the New Jersey state record in the event. The previous state record holder was Columbia who set the standard in 2013 with a time of 3:42.03 at Nationals. The National record which is the only time ahead on Union Catholic now is 3:38.91 set in 2004 by California's Long Breach Poly.
Splits and links to career stats - Tia Livingston 56.41, Amari Onque-Shabbazz 54.80, Cassandra Lamadieu 57.43, and Sydney McLaughlin 51.65.
1 Union Catholic Tc-Nj 3:40.28M
1) Tia Livingston 16 2) Amari Onque-Shabazz 16
3) Cassandra Lamadieu 17 4) Sydney McLaughlin 17
56.405 (56.405) 1:51.202 (54.797) 2:48.634 (57.432)
3:40.280 (51.647)
2 Motor City Tc-Mi 3:40.69M
1) Brianna Holloway 16 2) Dorriann Coleman 18
3) Janae Barksdale 19 4) Anna Jefferson 16
55.958 (55.958) 1:51.054 (55.097) 2:47.004 (55.950)
3:40.688 (53.685)
3 Paul Robeson Tc-Ny 3:40.95M
1) Latoya Stewart 16 2) Alyssa Sandy 16
3) BryAnn Sandy 17 4) Amanda Crawford 16
55.602 (55.602) 1:50.296 (54.694) 2:48.179 (57.884)
3:40.947 (52.768)
4 Bullis School Tc-Md 3:43.92
1) Lauryn Harris 19 2) Sierra Leonard 19
3) Mia-Irene Gyau 16 4) Masai Russell 18
55.184 (55.184) 1:51.467 (56.283) 2:48.092 (56.626)
3:43.915 (55.823)
5 Western Branch Tc-Va 3:45.99
1) Jada Terrell 17 2) Jashella Jenkins 17
3) Faith Ross 16 4) Amanda Thomas 16
57.645 (57.645) 1:51.498 (53.854) 2:48.583 (57.085)
3:45.984 (57.401)