Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone shatters her own hurdles world record

SAINT-DENIS, France — Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone destroyed arguably the greatest Olympic Games 400-meter hurdles field ever assembled and shattered her own world record to defend her Olympic gold medal in dominating fashion Thursday night at Stade de France.

McLaughlin-Levrone  simply blew away the rest of the field over the final 200 meters, finishing in 50.37 seconds and knocking nearly three-tenths of a second off the world record she set only weeks earlier in winning the U.S. Olympic Trials.

U.S. teammate Anna Cockrell, formerly of USC., took the silver in 51.87. Netherlands Femke Bol, the reigning world champion who had been expected to challenge McLaughlin-Levrone, got the bronze medal in 52.15.