The World Athletics Championship in Budapest is just over 90 days away. We haven’t seen much yet this season from Olympic and world gold medalists Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Athing Mu, but their plans for USAs and worlds are coming together.
Bob Kersee, who coaches both McLaughlin-Levrone and Mu, said Thursday that, if the summer goes as planned, McLaughlin-Levrone will race the open 400 meters at the USATF Championships in July, and either the 400 meters or the 400-meter hurdles at the World Championships in Budapest in August. She may also race the mixed-gender 4×400-meter relay and the women’s 4×400-meter relay at worlds in addition to her individual event. If everything goes to plan, this lineup could set her up to triple-medal at Worlds.
As the defending world champion in the 400-meter hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone receives automatic qualification into worlds, so she does not have to contest the event to earn a spot on the team at USAs. Kersee noted that McLaughlin-Levrone will not attempt the 400-400 hurdles double at worlds—something many fans have speculated—because of the time schedule.
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McLaughlin-Levrone broke her own world record in the 400-meter hurdles last summer at worlds in Oregon with a time of 50.68. It remains to be seen if she will chase another world title—and possibly better her own world record—in the 400-meter hurdles, or if she will switch it up and chase glory in the open 400 meters instead.
Meanwhile, Kersee said Mu will run the 1500 meters at the USATF Championships. She has a bye in the 800 meters after winning the world title in the event last summer at the World Championships. Like McLaughlin-Levrone, Mu may also run the 4×400-meter relay and the mixed-gender 4×400-meter relay in Budapest. Kersee also said that Mu may attempt the 800-1500 double at the 2024 Paris Olympics next summer.
Of course, both athletes will have to make it to the summer competition healthy in order to chase these huge goals. McLaughlin-Levrone recently dropped out of the Los Angeles Grand Prix (May 27) due to an irritated hamstring.
Contributing Writer
Kells McPhillips is a health and wellness journalist living in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, The New York Times, Well+Good, Fortune, Shape, and others.