Savannah Sutherland reveals why breaking Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s NCAA record felt like a ‘full circle’ moment

Michigan Wolverines athlete Savannah Sutherland shared her feelings for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone hours after winning the 400m hurdles event at the 2025 NCAA Track and Field Championships. Sutherland clocked a run time of 52.46 seconds during the event, breaking McLaughlin-Levrone's time which stood at 52.75 seconds.

She defeated Akala Garrett and Michelle Smith, who finished second and third with run times of 54.66 and 55.20 seconds. Sutherland is now second in the season lead list, along with the Dutch athlete, Femke Bol, and is just behind 400m hurdles Olympic champion, McLaughlin-Levrone.

After the event, Sutherland expressed her admiration for McLaughlin-Levrone and said that she had grown up inspired by the latter. She said (via Citius Mag, 00:48 onwards):

"I grew up looking up to Sydney and so I was able to meet her this summer, running in the Olympic final, so it kind of felt full circle for me."

Before the 2025 NCAA Outdoor event, Savannah Sutherland had also registered impressive performances at the Big Ten Outdoors, where she won the 400m hurdles in 55.37 seconds.

On the other hand, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had a hot and cold performance during the Philadelphia leg of the Grand Slam Track event. She competed in the 100m hurdles and 100m flat during the event and finished 5th and 2nd, respectively.

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone makes her feelings known on performance at the Philadelphia Grand Slam Track event

McLaughlin-Levrone during the third leg of Michael Johnson's GST (Image via: Getty)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone shared her emotions after her performance at the Philadelphia leg of Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track event. This event featured McLaughlin-Levrone's first 100m hurdles race in a year after the Occidental Invitational 2024.

Speaking in an interview after her 100m hurdles event, the 400m hurdles Olympic champion said that the event was quite good as she came back to the shorter hurdles format. She said (via Citius Mag, 00:02 onwards):

"It felt good. Honestly, it's always crazy getting back into the short hurdles. You realize they come up on you so quick. But overall, I think just first one back in about a year. It felt really good, felt fun and fast. So, it's just a great atmosphere to be in."

During the conversation, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone also mentioned about her decision to come back to the shorter format and said that she wanted to switch her events in this part of the season and had already informed this decision to her coach.