U.S. Olympian Sydney McLaughlin of Union Catholic got
the NJSIAA Group Championships off to a blazing start when she took down her own World Junior record in the 400-meter hurdles with a sizzling time of 54.03, No. 3 in the world this season, to win the Non-Public A race on Friday afternoon at Silver Eagle Stadium in Egg Harbor.
But that's not all.
A few hours later, McLaughlin returned to the track and completed a mind-blowing doubel by winning the 400 in a US #1 and All-Groups record of 51.88, just off her state and meet record of 51.87.
Just how incredible is McLaughlin's double?
Well, according to Jon Mulkeen of the IAAF, the total time of 1:05.91 in the two races combined places McLaughlin No. 4 all-time in the world for the fastest one day 400 hurdle/400 double.
In the 400 hurdles, the Kentucky-bound McLaughlin took down her own World
Junior record (under 20 years old) and U.S. high school record of 54.15 that she ran when she placed third in the 400 hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Trials last summer to make the U.S. Olympic Team at the age of 16. McLaughlin was the youngest person to make
the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team in 44 years.
The Non-Public A 400 hurdle title by McLaughlin was her fourth straight title in the event. McLaughlin's 51.88 broke her All-Groups meet record of 52.44 that she ran last year and was just off her state record of 51.87. McLaughlin' has now captured 10 individual state outdoor Group titles.
McLaughlin will be back on the track on Saturday when she chases the state record of 22.99 set in 1983 by Wendy Vereen of Trenton.
