Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs, Day Six: The Usual Suspects succeed in Women’s 400m hurdles

Sydney McLaughlin, Dalilah Muhammad, and Femke Bol, the three women with the fastest times ever in the 400-meter hurdles, made it look easy in their semifinal heats on day six of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene on Wednesday.

McLaughlin, 22, has six of the top ten fastest times ever recorded in the event, which includes the current world record of 51.41 that she recorded on June 25th of this year.

“It’s TrackTown, USA. What do you expect? Anytime I come here, I can just feel something amazing is gonna happen,” McLaughlin said after her June world record performance. “I don’t think anything compares to the first time you do it, just crossing that finish line in awe.”

McLaughlin continues to find extraordinary success at Hayward Field as three of the top ten times she lays claim to have been run in the stadium.

Muhammad, 32, was the previous world record holder before McLaughlin began on her hot streak and has her name tied to three of the top then times. The two competitors from the United States continuously go head-to-head in competitions on both the national and international stage.

“I felt good. I just wanted to go out there and get a win,” Muhammad said after the Wednesday semifinal. “For the finals, let’s open it up for real.”

Who has that final top ten time? 

Femke Bol. The 22-year-old Dutch runner is the only person to encroach on the Americans’ great success in the 400-meter hurdle race over the past few years. Bol also has the eleventh and thirteenth fastest times ever in the event.

“I’m really excited to get back on the track for the hurdles,” Bol shared on Instagram before her rounds began and included the schedule for the 400-meter hurdles final on the 22nd.

These three athletes recorded jaw-dropping times on Wednesday, and it looked like they were jogging across the finish lines. McLaughlin finished in 52.17 seconds, Bol crossed the line in 52.84 seconds, and Muhammad led her heat with a time of 53.28 seconds.

Muhammad and McLaughlin will be joined in the final by two of their Team USA teammates. 27-year-old Shamier Little, who finished fourth overall in the semifinal, heats with her season’s best of 53.61 seconds. As well as 21-year-old Britton Wilson who ran a 53.72 on Wednesday.

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