INDIANAPOLIS -- Running a world-leading time in her first 400 hurdles race since 2022, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Los Angeles, California/USATF Southern California) earned recognition as the 21st USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2024. Reigning Olympic champion and world record holder McLaughlin-Levrone showed she hasn't lost a step in the 400H since winning the world title in stunning fashion at Eugene22, dominating the field at the HBCU Classic American Track League meet in Atlanta in 52.70, the fastest time in the world in 2024 and a time only she and five other American women have ever bettered. McLaughlin-Levrone opened her season with a 4x100 relay leg at the Mt. SAC Relays and then did a 100H/200 double at Occidental College on May 4 before zipping to a PB 22.07 to win the 200 at the USATF LA GP on May 18. Her 52.70 was the fastest 400H time ever run by a woman in the month of May. Other top performances from last week:
Rachel Tanczos won the women's hammer at the Iron Wood Classic in Idaho with a PB 74.82/245-6 to move to No. 10 on the all-time U.S. performer list.
Maggie Malone-Hardin had the eighth farthest women's javelin performance ever by an American at the Iron Wood Classic, throwing 65.00/213-1 for the win.
Nick Christie teamed up with Miranda Melville to better the American record in the marathon race walk mixed relay with a 3:08:57.15 at Chula Vista, chopping almost four minutes off the existing record.
Now in its 23rd year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week. 2024 Winners: January 17, Weini Kelati; January 24, Cooper Teare; January 31, Nico Young; February 7, Fiona O'Keeffe; February 14, Elle St. Pierre; February 21, Grant Holloway; February 28, Jalani Davis; March 6, Elle St. Pierre; March 13, Rachel Glenn; March 20, Grant Fisher; March 27, Myrle Mensey; April 3, Jordan Davis; April 10, Hillary Bor; April 17, Jacious Sears; April 24, Christian Miller; May 1, Payton Otterdahl; May 8, Gabby Thomas; May 15, Ja'Kobe Tharp; May 22, Rai Benjamin; May 29, Joe Kovacs; June 5, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. We welcome your nominations! To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org. Join the conversation with USATF on X, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #USATF.