McLaughlin is Gatorade National Track Athlete of Year
Union Catholic's Sydney McLaughlin became a member of a very elite group of athletes on Monday afternoon.
McLaughlin was named the Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year and was presented the trophy by Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix, who won the award in 2003. McLaughlin joins a list of previous winners that includes St. Joseph (Metuchen) graduate Karl-Anthony Towns, as well as Peyton Manning, Maya Moore and Kerri Walsh.
"I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. It’s a honor, it’s a great feeling, and I’m proud and excited that my name is on the trophy with all the other amazing athletes," said McLaughlin, who just completed her junior year of high school.
McLaughlin was selected from 478,000 girls track and field athletes from across the country, and she is now a finalist for the Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year award, which will be presented prior to the ESPY Awards in July.
McLaughlin, who is in California after competing at the U.S. Junior National Championships this past weekend, was surprised with the award at El Segundo High School. According to McLaughlin, she was stunned when Felix appeared on the track with the trophy.
"It was really fun. I remember when I got the award and how it was just a really special time, and it was cool to be able to come back and give it to someone else," Felix said. "I have heard about her for quite a while now. I obviously knew about her talent, and I could tell she was a special young lady, and I was excited to be able to help her in any way that I could."
A two-time Gatorade State Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year for New Jersey, McLaughlin is gearing up to run in the Olympic Trials, which run from July 1-10 in Eugene, Oregon.
"I'm excited and a little bit nervous. I have mixed emotions. I think it’s going to be a great experience, and I have to focus on what I have to do and not let the hype get to me," she said. "I was out here for juniors, so I’m just going to stay here for a week and get used to the weather and have some relaxation time before the seriousness starts."
McLaughlin, who will be heading to Oregon this weekend, has dominated her competition during both the indoor and spring track seasons. At the outdoor Meet of Champions earlier this month, McLaughlin won the 400 hurdles for the third straight year with a time of 56.23, which broke her old meet record of 57.39 that she set last year. She also won the 400 in a time of 51.87, which broke the state record of 52.44 that she set in 2015, and the meet record of 53.15, which was set in 1985.
McLaughlin continued her dominance at the New Balance National Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, smashing the national high school record in the 400 hurdles of 55.20 — set in 1984 by Leslie Maxie — with a time of 54.46, which also broke her own meet record of 55.87 she set last year. At the U.S. Junior National Championships, she also won the 400 hurdles in 54.54 seconds, which qualified her for the U.S. team that will compete at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland from July 19-24.
"I think (Sydney) is phenomenal," Felix said. "Her talent is undeniable, and I think she has a fearlessness to her, which is great for where she is. She’s not afraid to step up to the challenge, she’s very determined, and that’s a great quality to have."
While McLaughlin has had massive success so far this year, her ultimate goal is to make it to the Olympics. She's been training for this moment for two years, and she's excited to see how she matches up against some of the best in the country.
"I’m very excited. Not many people get this opportunity, and to get it at this age it’s unreal. To go out there and being on that track is going to be one to remember," the 16-year-old said. "(The Olympics) would be my lifelong dream, I thought about it so much, and to be able to do it would just be a dream come true, and to do it at this age would be unbelievable."
Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego