The Diamond League Finals are here! And Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has left track and field fans reeling for her to get back on the track. After successfully defending her title in the French capital, the Olympian left things open-ended. Even though she is known for being highly selective with her appearances, the 25-year-old was set to contest at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. Until she wasn’t!

However, after some back and forth, it was announced she would participate in the pre-program races. On September 13, the hurdler stepped onto the tracks for the 400m dash. In true Mclaughlin-Levrone fashion, she sped past her competitors in 49.11 seconds. But after her thrilling race, the Olympian revealed what the event was like for her. “Running the 400m at the end of the season definitely hurts a little bit more, and I felt the cramping.” With the 200m invitational set for tomorrow, this left many concerned. 

McLaughlin-Levrone continued, “That’s why I chose to run with long paints, just to be safe. But I felt strong during the race.” Starting in Lane 4, the sprinter looked as determined as ever. This might have been an invitational race for most, but she was here to win. Even though the tracks had remnants of moisture and the conditions were slightly cooler, the 400m hurdles Olympic champion held on to a stellar lead.

However, she hoped to improve her PB in the 400m circuit. “I just wanted to get one more. I was hoping for a little bit faster, but I think the weather definitely wasn’t on my side today,“ she stated. The world record holder might not have set a new PB, but she did clock the second-fastest time by an American this season in the event. Trailing behind her, Stacey Ann Williams and Andrea Miklos clocked 50.53 seconds and 51.16 seconds on the clock.

The 25-year-old did have a good time on the tracks. She explained, “I’m just happy to be here and get the experience racing in Europe. It’s an amazing crowd. I’m just having some fun.“ But now that the 400m invitational is done and dusted, what’s next for the hurdler? “Now we’re gonna go home, rest a bit and decide tomorrow to run the 200m or not.“ But she later added that she is excited about the 200m invitational on September 14. Why didn’t she contest in the finals instead?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s Diamond League appearance was ‘special’

After successfully concluding her Olympic stint in Paris, many fans were hoping to see the world record holder at the Diamond League. Even though she would enter through a wildcard entry, a few were miffed that she wouldn’t contest in the finals. Because the 25-year-old hadn’t competed in any of the previous meets, she technically didn’t meet the eligibility criteria to run in Brussels. However, the Allianz Memorial Van Damme appearance came with a twist.

The Diamond League CEO cleared the air. “To avoid any confusion or misunderstanding, we do confirm that 400m hurdles Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be competing at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, but not as part of the Wanda Diamond League Final races.” After participating in only 3 races this season, fans were ecstatic to watch her in two consecutive races, ending her season with a bang. Did you watch Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone dominate the tracks in Brussels?