Which Outdoor National Records Still Seem Unbreakable?


GIRLS 300MH



* Sydney McLaughlin opened up her senior outdoor season with a 300mH national record at the 2017 Arcadia Invitational.

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38.90

Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic (NJ)

April 8, 2017


Roughly five years ago, she was nicknamed 'Syd the Kid' for her exploits as a teenager on the track. But even today, she still holds the 400mH record and the more commonly run high school distance of 300mH. McLaughlins' record stands solidly on top of the all-time national rankings.

Only one other athlete has ever gone under 40 seconds for the 300mH -- Lashinda Demus of Wilson Long Beach (SC). That was over 20 years ago in 2001.

A handful of athletes have come close to dipping under 40 seconds in the past few years. Masai Russell (40.16, 2018), Alexis Glasco (40.28, 2021), Markalah Hart (40.28, 2017) and Shae Anderson (40.31, 2017) round out the list of girls within the last five years that have narrowly missed the mark.

Will we ever see a talent like McLaughlin that will join her on the sub-39 second list? McLaughlin had an impressive young resume when she ran 38.90 -- 400mH world youth champion, 400mH world junior record holder and a 2016 Olympian as a high school senior.

The question remains as to whether any athlete will ever achieve the same remarkable feats that McLaughlin did as a youth hurdler.