Dalilah Muhammad Breaks World Record in 400 Hurdles at US Track and Field Championships
Des Moines, Iowa: It took a few seconds before reality set in for Dalilah Muhammad.
The 29-year-old had just crossed the finish here at the Toyota US Outdoor Track and Field Championships, winning the women's 400-meter hurdles. Despite the rain, she ran a blazing 52.20 seconds, a new world record.
Dalilah smiled as she slowed to a jog, then a walk, then a complete stop. She clapped her hands and bent over. Nike teammate Ashley Spencer pumped her fists behind her. Sydney McLaughlin, the 19-year-old hurdling superstar, wrapped her in a hug.
"I can't even believe it," Dalilah said afterward. "I feel really good. I'm happy, for one, to just make the team, and I'm so happy about the selection of girls that are coming with me in the 400 hurdles.
"But the world record? Man, I'm just shocked. I don't think it's hit me yet."
Indeed, Dalilah broke a 16-year-old world record in the women's 400 hurdles. Her 52.20 is .14 seconds faster than Russia's YuliyaPechonkina mark set back in 2003. McLaughlin finished second, in 52.88, and Spencer third, in 53.11.
This mark's Dalilah's fourth career US outdoor title in the 400 hurdles. She entered the race at No. 2 in the world in the event, at 53.61 seconds. She trailed only McLaughlin, who had the world-leading time of 53.32, set earlier last month at a Diamond League race in Morocco.
"We've all been fighting for those three top spots," said Dalilah, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist. "We've been pushing each other, mentally and physically, on the track. We know what we're all capable of. We all want to be the best, and we all want to come out on top and represent Team USA.
"That's how records are broken."
The 2019 world championships are up next, set for Sept. 28 through Oct. 6 in Doha, Qatar. Dalilah, McLaughlin and Spencer all qualified. All three are expected to contend for medals - their times on Sunday are all currently the three fastest times in the world in the 400 hurdles.
Dalilah's record-breaking run sent the Drake Stadium crowd into a tizzy. But she said she wasn't terribly surprised by the result.
"I was hoping for it this whole weekend," she said. "I had been hitting that time in practice, consistently. My coach was like, 'You know, there's no way you can't do it. You just have to execute that last 40.'
"Sydney and Ashley both have a great finish, and that's always in the back of your mind. But I was focused on the finish line, and I knew if I kept my form, I'd cross first."
This is perhaps even more impressive given the fact that Dalilah Muhammad revealed that, two weeks ago, she had a "crazy fall" that resulted in a mild concussion. That limited her training leading up to this week.
Now, let's watch Dalilah Muhammad beating all her opponents not only to win the Championship, but also creating a new World Record for our great country.
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