Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone wins 400m gold at USA Outdoor Championships

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won gold in the 400 meters at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday, successfully defending her win in the event in 2023.

The world-record holder and reigning Olympic champion in the 400m hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone won Saturday with a time of 48.90 seconds, her best mark this season and 0.16 seconds off her personal best. Isabella Whittaker won silver with a time of 49.59 seconds while Aaliyah Butler won bronze in 49.91.

All three times were good enough to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.

The four-day U.S. championships began Thursday and runs through Sunday. The top three finishers in each event qualify for the world championship as long as they meet the world standard in their event or are high enough in the world rankings.

McLaughlin-Levrone's time Saturday was also 0.20 seconds behind Sanya Richards-Ross' American record.

"Everyone talks about the American record, of course, but that's going to come when it's going to come," she said. "I think this year and this event has taught me patience. I've learned a lot about myself and I've learned a lot about the 400."

Masai Russell, who also won gold in Paris last year in the 100m hurdles, won the event on Saturday as well, clocking in at 12.22 seconds - 0.05 seconds off the American record she set in May.

Grace Stark won silver with a time of 12.31 and Alaysha Johnson won bronze with a mark of 12.36, just edging out Keni Harrison (12.37).

In the men's 400, Jacory Patterson won gold with a time of 44.16 seconds. Patterson will go to Tokyo looking to improve on his bronze-medal finish at the world championships in Nanjing, China, in March.

Also qualifying for the worlds in the 400 was Chris Bailey, who ran 44.43 to win silver, and bronze medalist Khaleb McRae (44.45).

And in the men's 1500m, Jonah Koech came from sixth place in the final turn to win the event, besting Ethan Strand, the reigning NCAA champion in the 3000m. Koech posted a personal best of 3 minutes, 30.17 seconds while Strand finished in 3:30.25. Reigning Olympic champion and American-record holder Cole Hoecker finished third at 3:30.37.

Among Saturday's other winners:

--Reggie Jagers, discus (66.85m)

--Jasmine Moore, women's triple jump (14.68m)

--Chase Jackson, women's shot put (20.84m)

--Austin Miller, men's pole vault (5.92m)

--Nikki Hiltz, women's 1500 (4:03.15)

--Field Level Media