McLaughlin-Levrone canters in to leave 40-year-old mark at risk

First Tokyo witnessed the spectacular. Then came a divine act of Faith.

- Sean Ingle

In the women’s 400m, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran one of the fastest times in history, easing down, to raise the question of whether one of the oldest - and most controversial - track and field records might fall this week.

Shortly afterwards another standout female of her generation, Faith Kipyegon, underlined her status by speeding to a historic fourth 1500m title with such grace and distance that it took the breath away.

Both women have long stood tall in the athletics pantheon. What they do in the coming days could reinforce their case to be considered as the greatest female athlete of all time.

McLaughlin-Levrone, of course, already holds numerous gold medals and world records in the 400m hurdles. But now, suddenly, she has the 400m gold and possibly even the world record of 47.60sec set by Marita Koch in 1985 in her sights too.

The American showed that by running 48.29sec in her semifinal yesterday - smashing her personal best by nearly half a second - and then promising to run faster in the final tomorrow. “This race definitely gives me confidence for the final,” she said. “I didn’t expect to run this fast today. And I still have more to show.”