McLaughlin sets World U20 record in 400, Irby takes second before running world-leading 200

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The future of not just Southeastern Conference track and field, but collegiate and American sprinting was on display Sunday at Texas A&M’s Gilliam Indoor Stadium and the best part was there could be an even more spectacular encore in two weeks.

Freshmen Sydney McLaughlin of Kentucky and Lynna Irby of Georgia produced the most impressive 400-meter showdown in NCAA Division 1 indoor history to not only take over the top two spots in the world this year, but move closer toward collegiate and U.S. all-time records.

McLaughlin set the World U20 record by clocking 50.52 seconds, elevating to No. 2 all-time among collegiate and American indoor performers. Irby ran 50.62 to ascend to No. 4 in Division 1 and U.S. indoor history.

“I knew it was going to be a tough race. We had talked about scenarios and what were going to try to do, but for me that’s just a milestone,” said McLaughlin, who broke the 2004 World U20 record of 50.82 set by American Sanya Richards-Ross.

“Being able to run 50.5, that was my goal coming in. I wrote down in my notebook 50.5 (Sunday), this is what I’m going to do.”

Irby was back on the track less than 75 minutes later to run a world-leading 22.66 in the 200, completing one of the exceptional one-day sprint doubles in NCAA history.

“I know that I haven’t peaked just yet and there are a lot of things my coach and I will be working on to continue our good streak,” Irby said.

McLaughlin capped the meet by leading Kentucky to a victory in its section of the 4x400 relay, but third place overall in 3:31.96. LSU prevailed out of the first section in 3:30.85 and Tennessee took second in 3:31.48.

“It’s been a long day and we know what we can do. I think on a good day when we’re all together and we’re all helping each other out, it’s definitely possible. I didn’t run to my best, I know that for sure, but they all gave their best and we got some PRs out of a few people,” said McLaughlin, who split 51.70 on the third leg, before Kayelle Clark ran the anchor for the Wildcats after clocking 22.83 in the 200 earlier to place third.

“I think when the time comes and there is competition there, we’re going to run really fast.”

McLaughlin and Irby weren’t the only freshmen to excel during the two-day meet, with Texas A&M’s Sammy Watson winning the women’s 800 in 2:04.25 to edge junior teammate Jazmine Fray in 2:05.42.

Arkansas freshman Janeek Brown took second in the women’s 60 hurdles in 8.04, with Florida’s Amanda Froeynes placing third in the pentathlon with 4,175 points and Texas A&M’s Tyra Gittens taking fifth with 4,121.

Georgia freshman Tara Davis placed fifth in 8.13 after taking the same spot Saturday in the long jump with a leap of 21-2.75 (6.47m).

“It’s amazing to me to just think that we have such an amazing freshman class. Sammy, Lynna, Tara, all of us out here, it’s just exciting to see that our class is coming into NCAAs and just doing what we have to do,” McLaughlin said. “I’m excited to see what the future brings for all of us and I think we’re definitely the next generation of greats.”