Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continued her transition from the 400-metre hurdles to the flat sprint by winning the women’s 400 m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. The 24-year-old crossed the line in 49.43 seconds, her fastest time of the year and the third-quickest of her career. McLaughlin-Levrone held off U.S. collegiate champion Aaliyah Butler, who finished second in 49.86 seconds, while the rest of the field trailed more than a second behind. The victory came at the season’s third U.S. stop on the World Athletics Diamond League circuit and marked McLaughlin-Levrone’s first appearance at the meet since she set the American 400-metre hurdles record in 2023. The result strengthens McLaughlin-Levrone’s case for contesting the flat 400 m at the World Championships later this season, although she has not ruled out returning to the hurdles. Meet organisers said 12,000 spectators attended the day session, which also featured several other U.S. track stars ahead of next month’s Olympic trials.