Noah Lyles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone score comfortable wins at USATF NYC Grand Prix
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone wanted an American record in the open 400m, but she got a world lead time instead.
The Olympic champion and world record holder in the 400m hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone turned in a 48.75 in the 400m, just 0.05 seconds off Sanya Richards Ross' 48.70, set in 2006 on Sunday (9 June) at the USATF NYC Grand Prix in New York City.
The American was joined by compatriot and fellow world champion Noah Lyles in the winner's circle, with Lyles capturing the final event of the day in the men's 200m, clocking a 19.77.
The NYC Grand Prix marked one of the final stops for American track and field athletes ahed of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon, later this month (21-30 June).
Surprises came through in the 100m, with two-time and reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica placing last (11.48) and appearing to incur an injury in her right foot. She was carried off the track, and later posted that she "felt something uncomfortable" and was awaiting medical guidance.
In the men's 100m, 2022 world champion Fred Kerley walked away from the start line after two false start calls. He said he was unsatisfied with the quality of the starting blocks, but clarified he had not been DQ'd, meaning he chose to withdraw from the race.
Nigerians swept the 100m, respectively, with Favour Ofili (11.18) winning the women's and Udodi Onwuzurike claiming the men's (10.24).
Gabby Thomas powered her way to victory in the women's 200m, clocking a 22.42.
The NYC Grand Prix is a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold stop, with the Olympic Games Paris 2024 less than 50 days away.
NYC Grand Prix: Wayde Van Niekerk says men's 400m is 'wide open'
It was a busy day on Randall's Island at Icahn Stadium, with Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk also in action in the men's 400m. The Rio 2016 winner was third at 44.74, with Kirani James (44.45) and Chris Bailey (44.73) going one-two.
In the hurdle races, Trey Cunningham came away with the men's 110m at 13.21, while Devynne Charlton won the women's 100m in 12.56, while reigning Olympic silver medallist Keni Harrison was sixth (12.77).
On the field, reigning world indoor champion Tara Davis-Woodhall won the long jump with a 7.14m (23 feet, 5 inches).
"The race is so wide open right now," van Niekerk said of the men's 400m. "I couldn't pull it through [last year]. It's about managing what version of myself gets [to Paris]. I really want to stay healthy and get good racing in."
"I'm trying to approach everything day-by-day," the two-time world champion (2015, 17) said. "It's quite challenging being someone who has achieved everything in the event... Previously I could have just stepped onto the track and done what I did today, esaily. It's a totally different version of myself."
The 31-year-old was seventh at Worlds a year ago afer being ranked No.1 in the 400m for much of the 2023 season. He had been fifth at Worlds in 2022 following a semi-final effort at Tokyo 2020 in 2021.
"I need to approach this version kindly, more gently and see where it goes," he continued. "I'm trying to find the right motivation and seek a little bit of growth each day. As long as there's growth there's hope. I'm trying to find that improvement in the growth."