The impossible has just happened. The undisputed queen of hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, just got served. And that too by another American hurdler. While the fans are visibly shocked, those who have followed the 27-year-old know just what she is capable of. After all, she has already locked horns with McLaughlin-Levrone before. And while back then, she might’ve come up short against Sydney, she has finally gotten her redemption. But how? And who is she?

Well, it’s none other than Anna Cockrell. Her latest ascent came when she took the tracks by storm at the John McDonnell Invitational 2025. Competing in the 300m hurdles category, Cockrell was the favorite to win the race. But how she won took everybody by surprise. Dropping a time of 38.07s, Cockrell took the gold. The expanse of her run could be fathomed just by taking a look at the timings of her opponents.

After all, Cockrell wasn’t just quick off the blocks. No, she was dominating her rivals from start to finish without even slowing down. The time between her and second place, Andrenette Knight? A nifty 0.58 seconds. Meanwhile, third-placed Saira Prince could only muster 39.63 seconds. But that’s not all. With this performance, Cockrell has also dethroned Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s record for the fastest time by an American in the 300m hurdles.

Previously, it was Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone who held the record. Back in 2017, McLaughlin-Levrone clocked 38.90s to become the fastest American. However, this was not all. Cockrell now sits in the second position in world history. The only person standing in her way is Femke Bol, who has a blitzkrieg timing of 36.86 seconds to beat!

Thus, with such a strong showing, it is expected that the clash of Cockrell and McLaughlin-Levrone will be an intense battle to follow this season. After all, if we just go back a few months to Paris 2024, we saw Sydney win the gold in the 400m hurdles, while Cockrell had to settle for the silver. However, ahead of the new season, McLaughlin-Levrone might also have some interesting thoughts to share.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone walked in faith as she set her sights on a historic 2025 season

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set the tone for her 2025 season with a message full of faith, strength, and purpose. As she geared up for another dominant year on the track, the 400m hurdles world record holder reminded fans that her journey was deeply rooted in walking “in a manner worthy of the calling to which you’ve been called.”

In an inspiring Instagram post, the Olympic champion stated, “Walk with grace, though the path is narrow, even when peace seems far, no matter the distance to go.” She further emphasized the importance of inner strength, urging, “Though the flesh is weak, keep walking in his will, not by your own strength.”

The 25-year-old, fresh off her second Olympic gold and sixth world record-breaking performance, appeared more focused than ever as she stepped into a season where breaking the historic 50-second barrier remained within reach. Adding a personal touch, Sydney also shared a heartwarming childhood photo of her standing on a football field, a nod to her early athletic roots.

As she continued preparations, her words served as a powerful reminder. McLaughlin-Levrone mentioned, “Fix your eyes ahead… keep walking in faith. Walk with grace.” With her unwavering mindset, fans expected the American star to deliver more history-making performances in 2025.