McLaughlin goes out in style with record-breaking 400

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

NEW YORK -- Sydney McLaughlin still remembers her first high school race at The Armory. It was Dec. 21, 2013 at the Bishop Loughlin Games when the Union Catholic NJ freshman debuted indoor, running a 300-meter state-record time of 38.55 seconds. 

"We were really excited. We couldn't wait to see her run her first race, and she went out broke the state record first time out," her father, Willie McLaughlin, said. "And we waited years to see that."

Nearly four years later, the 17-year-old Olympian ran her last high school race Sunday at The Armory. And just like she entered, she left in record-setting fashion. She broke her own national 400-meter record in 51.61 at the New Balance Nationals Indoor.  

"I started out here (The Armory), I'm just glad I get to end it here," McLaughlin said. 

It's been a transformational journey from beginning to end for the Union Catholic senior, one that featured a slew of wins as well as records. But the journey that her father saw coming goes further back. 

"From the first time we saw her run, we knew," said Willie McLaughlin, a former All-American at Manhattan College. "She's special. She still is."

This weekend at The Armory was just a snapshot into Sydney's life. Decked out in her recognizable Team USA jacket, the All-American could barely walk five feet without posing for a picture, signing an autograph or stopping for a quick chat. Willie said the attention started mounting last year, but blew up after this summer when she qualified for the Olympics in Rio where she advanced to the semifinals in the 400 hurdles.

In January, McLaughlin was part of the world record-setting distance medley team, including fellow Olympians Emma Coburn, Brenda Martinez and Jenny Simpson. 

"It's crazy now," Willie McLaughlin said. "Everyone wants to take a picture with her, get an autograph. It's hard to even walk to dinner sometimes or have lunch, people stopping you because she's on the Olympics (team). It's unreal at times. She's a little celebrity."

Meets like New Balance Nationals, where there are a concentration of track and field fans, can be a little overwhelming at times, Willie explained. But Sydney has been forced to grow out of her comfort zone a bit and find a happy medium amid all the attention and pressure.  

"Of course there's people expecting you to do stuff and watching you, and everyone is hyped up," Sydney said. "But I think at the same time being able to talk to people and have them here and supporting me, definitely calms everything down."

Sydney, who plans to attend the University of Kentucky in the fall, is still very much a high schooler. She unwinds with music in her room, hangs out with a couple of really good friends, and navigates her social media like every other teenager, according to her dad. 

She also found room for improvement in her 400-meter final Sunday. She would have liked to have gone under 51 seconds.

"It was a good performance. I think my goal in general was to just come out here and break my record from last year," she said. "I think I didn't run the race I wanted to. But it's my last race, I'm glad I came out here and broke my own record. It's a great way to end my high school career."

Sydney's high school track and field career will come to a close in the next few months as she gets ready for her final spring outdoor season with Union Catholic. The focus will turn to her main event, the 400 hurdles. 

But the indoor season and The Armory have been a special part of her four years. 

"It went by so quickly," she said. "I am just so happy. There were so many great memories here. This is definitely my favorite place to run."