Well & truly over the hurdle

DES MOINES, July 29

Olympics champion Dalilah Muhammad smashed one of athletics’ oldest world records when she stormed to the women’s 400 metres hurdles title in 52.20 seconds at the United States championships on Sunday.

The blistering run shaved more than a tenth of a second from the previous mark of 52.34 seconds set by Russian Yuliya Pechonkina in 2003.

“I’m just shocked,” said the 29-year-old Muhammad, who suffered concussion after a fall during training two weeks ago. “I’ve been kind of hitting that time in practice consistently and my coach was like, ‘There’s no way you can’t do it’.” 

Teenager Sydney McLaughlin was second in 52.88, just 0.13 shy of her personal best, with Ashley Spencer third in 53.11, as all three runners made the US team for September’s World Championships in Doha.

The record could fall again there, said Muhammad, who trains in Los Angeles. “That 52 is going to get broke,” Muhammad said. “If not by me, by some other woman.” 

She had entered the American championships with a personal best of 52.64 seconds. Twice a world silver medallist but never the champion, she went out hard in the final and was clearly the leader by the final straight. She smiled, put her hands on her hips and slumped down after crossing the finish line.

Despite her Olympics gold medal, Muhammad had been overshadowed by the rapidly improving McLaughlin since the Rio Games.

In fact, many had expected McLaughlin, who went to the Rio Olympics as a 17-year-old, would be the one to break the world record.

Asked if she thought she was underrated with all the attention, McLaughlin had received, Muhammad said, “I do. I felt like the underdog in the race,” she said.

Lyles on fire

The stunning record overshadowed what had been expected to the highlight of the closing day of the four-day meeting — 100m winner Christian Coleman challenging wunderkind Noah Lyles in the 200m. 

Lyles, the fastest man at the distance since Usain Bolt won the Olympics gold in 2012, got the victory in 19.78 seconds with Coleman running 20.02 to make the World Championships in a second event. The two were side-by-side before Lyles pulled away in the last 60m. “Tons of joy,” said Lyles, who danced down the track after winning. “This is the hardest team to make.” — Reuters