TOKYO -- Four championship finals in a row, four world records in a row.
What more can be said of the Sydney McLaughlin-Dalilah Muhammad rivalry that has ignited the 400m hurdles into the most exciting event on the women’s program?
For the second day in a row the 400m hurdles
Anna Cockrell (Waxhaw, North Carolina / USATF Southern California) was disqualified for a lane violation (Technical Rule 17.3.1).
Muhammad was out fastest and held a slight lead through the seventh hurdle, where McLaughlin started to draw almost even. Coming off the final hurdle still in the lead, Muhammad was caught by McLaughlin and the duo then gave it all they had over the final 40m.
McLaughlin clipped .44 off her previous world record, the biggest reduction in the mark since 1984, and the American 1-2 with both women breaking the previous record is reminiscent of the Kim Batten-Tonja Buford race at the 1995 World Championships, when Batten won 52.61-52.62.
Dating back to the 2019 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships, Muhammad and McLaughlin have met in four major finals and have set two world records each. Muhammad set the first at Des Moines with a 52.20, .68 ahead of McLaughlin, and then lowered it to 52.16 to win the world title at Doha by .07. McLaughlin returned the favor at the Olympic Trials in June, .52 up on Muhammad with her 51.90, and then today happened.
At her medal ceremony, McLaughlin received the 1,000th gold medal awarded in Olympic track and field history.
Men’s 110m Hurdles semifinal
Safely navigating the 10 barriers after a comfortable start, reigning world champion Grant Holloway (Gainesville, Florida / USATF Florida) won the final semi in 13.13, the fastest time of the day.
Looking as smooth as his post-race celebration, Devon Allen (Annapolis, Maryland / USATF Potomac Valley) was clear of the field right away and never headed on the way to a 13.18 win in the second semi, the second fastest time overall.
Daniel Roberts (Griffin, Georgia / USATF Georgia) made it to hurdle one first in the first semi but wasn’t able to capitalize on that early lead and ended up fifth in 13.33 and did not advance, missing out by one place.
Holloway and Allen will compete in the men’s 110m hurdles final on Wednesday, August 4 at 10:55 PM ET / Thursday, August 5 at 11:55 A.M. in Tokyo.
Men’s Javelin qualifying
Curtis Thompson (Florence, New Jersey / USATF New Jersey) had his best throw in the first round of flight B, but the 78.20m/256-7 effort wasn’t enough to earn a spot in the final. Competing on an injured right knee in flight A, Michael Shuey (Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania / USATF New York) was unable to record a legal throw.
Women’s Heptathlon 1st day
All three Team USATF multi-eventers were in the final heat of the 100m hurdles to open the competition. Kendall Williams (Kennesaw, Georgia / USATF Georgia) overcame a sluggish start to record the fastest time of the three sections with a 12.97 that was just off her season best. Erica Bougard (Chula Vista, California / USATF New York) was fourth in the heat at 13.14, while Trials champion Annie Kunz (San Clemente, California / USATF Southern California) averted disaster after clobbering the fourth hurdle, finishing in 13.49 after regaining her balance and composure. Bougard cleared 1.86m/6-1.25 in the high jump to sit in second after two events, and Williams was fifth. Kunz was 77 points behind Williams in 14th.
Competition continues Wednesday at 6:05 A.M. ET / 7:05 P.M. local with the heptathlon shot put.
Men’s Decathlon 1st day
Just like their counterparts in the heptathlon, the U.S. decathletes were all in the final section of the 100m. Setting a personal best of 10.55, Zach Ziemek (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin / USATF Wisconsin) was the top American, with Trials champion Garrett Scantling (Athens, Georgia / USATF Georgia) at 10.67 and Steven Bastien (Ann Arbor, Michigan / USATF Michigan) at 10.69. All three men were well off their season bests in the long jump, with Bastien the best at 7.39m/24-3 on his only legal attempt. A personal best in the shot put by Ziemek and a solid throw by Scantling put both men in the top eight in the point standings after three events, while Bastien was 10th.
Full session results are available on the World Athletics website. The next session begins at 5:30 A.M. ET Wednesday / 6:30 P.M. in Tokyo with the men’s decathlon high jump. Fans in the U.S. can watch here via NBC properties.
Stay up-to-date by following USATF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok and using the hashtag #TeamUSATF.
USATF Medal Count (13)
Gold (3)
Women’s Discus Throw - Valarie Allman
Women’s 800m - Athing Mu
Women’s 400m Hurdles - Sydney McLaughlin
Silver (7)
Women’s Shot Put – Raven Saunders
Men’s 100m – Fred Kerley
Women’s 100m Hurdles - Keni Harrison
Women’s Long Jump - Brittney Reese
Men’s 400m Hurdles - Rai Benjamin
Men’s Pole Vault - Chris Nilsen
Women’s 400m Hurdles - Dalilah Muhammad
Bronze (3)
4x400m Mixed Relay – Trevor Stewart, Kendall Ellis, Kaylin Whitney, Vernon Norwood
Women’s 800m - Raevyn Rogers
Women’s 200m - Gabby Thomas
World Records (1)
Women’s 400m Hurdles - Sydney McLaughlin (51.46)
American Records (3)
Men’s 400m Hurdles - Rai Benjamin (46.17)
Women’s 800m - Athing Mu (1:55.21)
Women’s 400m Hurdles - Sydney McLaughlin (51.46)
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