McLaughlin-Levrone runs 48.74 for fastest time in world since 2019, just missing U.S. all-time mark of 48.70 set by Richards-Ross in 2006; Hiltz and Nuguse win 1,500 titles, with Ali prevailing in 100 hurdles and Deadmon securing men’s 400

By David Woods for DyeStat

EUGENE, Ore. – Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone does not race often – four outdoor meets over 12 months – but produces historic times when she does.

She set a meet record of 48.74 seconds in the 400 meters Saturday night at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships, coming within .04 of the American record set 17 years ago.

Hers is what you would call an historic resume.

In 2021, she set world records in the 400-meter hurdles at both Olympic Trials and Tokyo Olympics. In 2022, she did likewise at the USATF nationals and World Championships.

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Besides Tokyo, the four other races were at the new Hayward Field.

“It’s always a fast track, always a fun track,” McLaughlin-Levrone said.

This was her third meet in the 400 this year, and third PB. Previous best was 49.51 at New York on June 24.

She credited coach Bobby Kersee for timely peaking.

“He works back from our major championships to know when we need to be ready,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “He’s always prepared to have us ready when it matters most.”

She declined to say whether she would run the flat 400 or 400 hurdles – or both -- in next month’s World Championships at Budapest, Hungary. The timetable would accommodate both, but she has not run a hurdles race in 11 months.

The 48.74 moved her to second on the all-time U.S. list, behind Sanya Richards-Ross and ahead of Valerie Brisco-Hooks, whose 48.83 dates to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. McLaughlin-Levrone is No. 10 on the all-time world list with the fastest time since 2019.

She finished more than a second ahead of collegians Britton Wilson (49.79) of Arkansas and Talitha Diggs (49.93) of Florida.

Lynna Irby-Jackson was fourth in 50.11, her best time since setting an NCAA Championships record of 49.80 in 2018. Irby-Jackson, 24, and McLaughlin-Levrone, 23, were teammates as long ago as the under-18 worlds in 2015.

Top three are to race the 400 at Budapest, but six or more could be chosen for the 4x400 and mixed 4x400 relays.

Athing Mu, also coached by Kersee, is qualified for 800/1,500 at worlds and could also run the 4x400. The Soviet Union’s world record of 3:15.17 has lasted since the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

“I think that’s something, when you get all the right four girls together, it happens when it happens,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “We’re not going to put pressure on it. But I do think we have an amazing group of girls.”

Also on the track, Nia Ali, a 34-year-old mother of three, won the 100-meter hurdles. Tight finishes were won by Yared Nuguse and Nikki Hiltz for their first national titles at 1,500 meters.

Ali’s time of 12.37 was her fastest in four years. She returned from childbirth in 2016 to win Olympic silver, from a second child to win world gold in 2019, and from a third child to win her first U.S. title.

Ali said she had a “rough” start to the season after relocating her family, including partner Andre De Grasse, a Canadian sprinter who has six Olympic medals, to Orlando, Fla. The hurdler said key to it all is compartmentalizing.

“I always tell people, when I’m at the track, I’m all track. I’m a student there,” she said. “When I’m home, I’m home. I don’t think about track.”

Keni Harrison, an Olympic silver medalist and former world record-holder, was second in 12.42 and Kentucky’s Masai Russell third in 12.46. Russell edged Alaysha Johnson by .002 – 12.458 to 12.460 – for the last spot on the world team. Tia Jones was fifth in 12.50.

U.S. hurdlers feature perhaps the deepest group of any event. Seven of this year’s top nine are Americans.

In the men’s 1,500, Nuguse carried a crisp pace until overtaken on the last lap by Joe Waskom, and then reclaimed the lead. Nuguse finished in 3:34.90, Waskom in a PB of 3:35.32 and Cole Hocker in 3:35.46.

Hobbs Kessler, who has the world standard, was sixth in 3:36.08 and NCAA champion Nathan Green of Washington seventh in a PB of 3:36.29. Matthew Centrowitz, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, was 10th in 3:37.23.

Waskom, also of Washington, lacks the world standard of 3:34.20 but should have the requisite world ranking.

“Joe kind of popped out of nowhere, and I was like, ‘Man, that was a good move right there,’” Nuguse said. Nuguse said he felt he “a couple of gears left” even after Waskom passed him.

Nuguse qualified for the Tokyo Olympics but was injured while there and did not race. With American records in the indoor mile and outdoor 1,500, he has affirmed he is a medal contender.

Hocker proclaimed he is, too. The former Oregon miler was sixth at Tokyo but missed the USATF final last year after injury and was sidelined by Achilles’ soreness for about 10 weeks this year.

“Moving forward, I just know that I’m one of the best in the worlds (cq) when I’m healthy,” Hocker said. “That’s why being injured sucks so bad because I know what I’m capable of.”

In the women’s 1,500, Hiltz capped a 2023 triple: national titles in the indoor 1,500, road mile and outdoor 1,500. Hiltz had to beat a strong field that included defending champion Sinclaire Johnson, world and Olympic 800-meter champion Mu, and 2021 Olympians Cory McGee and Heather MacLean.

Afterward, runners said the race had more than the usual amount of pushing and shoving.

“Obviously, everyone in there is like a class act and has done incredible things,” Hiltz said. “But I know that I’m a great runner, too, and I just had to believe in myself.”

Budapest spots were claimed by Hiltz in 4:03.10, Mu in 4:03.44 and McGee in 4:03.48. If Mu declines, her spot would go to fourth-place Johnson, who fell across the finish. Johnson’s time was 4:03.49, or one-hundredth behind McGee.

“I said to myself, ‘Just stay on your feet’ two or three times,” said McGee, 31, who qualified for her first worlds in 2013. “It was hectic. My big toenail got ripped off, and it hurt quite a bit in the first 200.”

Addy Wiley, 19, who won seven NAIA titles as a freshman, was fifth in 4:04.25. She represents Huntington (Ind.) University, which was sued over allegations of doping and sexual misconduct by former coach Nick Johnson. He has served one jail sentence and been indicted on charges of sexual battery. Huntington fired Johnson and promoted his wife, Lauren Johnson, who was placed on administrative leave in October. She and another suspended coach, Curtis Hines, are both in Eugene.

In another final on the track, Bryce Deadmon won the 400 in 44.22 for the fourth-fastest time in the world this year. Vernon Norwood, 31, was second in 44.39 and Quincy Hall third in 44.41.

Highlight of prelims was a time of 21.61 in the 200 by Sha’Carri Richardson. Albeit wind-aided (+2.6), it equaled No. 6 ever under all conditions.

Reigning world champion Grant Holloway and world leader Cordell Tinch of NAIA’s Pittsburg State topped the 110 hurdles trials, both in 13.07. NFL receiver Devon Allen advanced to semifinals in 14th, in 13.51, after not clearing a hurdle since a calf injury June 26.

Maria Michta-Coffey, 37, captured her first 20,000-meter race walk title since 2018 and ninth of her career by clocking 1:38:37.44. Michta-Coffey, a 47-time national champion, celebrated on the podium with 4-year-old daughter Liliana.

Nick Christie won his fifth consecutive 20,000 race walk championship in 1:25:30.31. Christie, 31, achieved his 28th career national title and became the first male athlete since Tim Lewis (1985-91) to win at least five in a row.

Contact David Woods at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.