Even with opportunity to set collegiate and American 400-meter records, McLaughlin’s main motivation is helping Wildcats make history with best indoor finish

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Sydney McLaughlin might be collegiate track and field's top newcomer, but this weekend the freshman standout wants to be one of many reasons why Kentucky secures its first team trophy at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships, and possibly contends for a national title.

McLaughlin is entered in the 200- and 400-meter prelims, along with the 4x400 relay final, meaning she could race five times in just over 24 hours in College Station, Texas, eager to help the Wildcats improve on their program-best fifth-place finish in 2015.

“We all know what we have to do individually and if everyone does their part individually, I think it will come together very well,” said McLaughlin, who was honored Monday by the USTFCCCA as the Southeast Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year.

“It’s more of just us pushing each other and regardless of the points or what happens on that day, if we’re here supporting each other as a team, I think we win no matter what.”

McLaughlin’s victory, and World U20 record 50.52 seconds, in the 400-meter final Feb. 25 at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships helped Kentucky place third in the women’s team battle with 74 points, trailing Arkansas (108) and Georgia (84.5).

A potential Division 1 title Saturday from McLaughlin, combined with other championship contenders Olivia Gruver in the pole vault and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn in the 60 hurdles, carry much greater weight for the Wildcats in pursuit of a podium finish at the NCAA Championship meet.

“I think we are a much better NCAA team than we are an SEC team for obvious reasons. To win (SEC) you’ve got to have people everywhere, with a few knicks and knacks, and a couple of points here and there, and we’re just not built that way yet,” said Kentucky coach Edrick Floreal, whose women’s team has enjoyed an impressive resurgence since finishing last in the 2012 SEC final.

“It’s better to build a team with big pieces and we’ve got a pretty fair amount of big pieces. I think we have a fair chance to pick up a trophy and that’s been the goal all year.”

Kentucky has nine women’s entries, but McLaughlin’s presence in the 400 could produce the marquee event of the two-day meet.

The Union Catholic NJ graduate ran the No. 2 time in collegiate and American indoor history to win the SEC title, with Georgia freshman Lynna Irby clocking 50.62, which ranks fourth all-time among collegiate performers and fifth by an American female athlete.

Their rematch, combined with the addition of USC senior Kendall Ellis, who ran 50.00 in June at the USATF Outdoor Championships, could lead to a significant challenge to the 2014 American and collegiate indoor records of 50.46 by former Oregon star and World Outdoor champion Phyllis Francis.

“We all know Sydney is better at chasing,” Floreal said. “This is kind of new to her where I’m forcing her to be more aggressive at the beginning and hoping there are challengers. Even in the (SEC) finals she was by herself for 350 meters and I think that builds anxiety because you’re wondering where everybody else is at. I’m kind of anxious to see her behind on the first lap because I think she’ll run much faster.”

Even after a world-leading performance in her SEC Indoor Championship debut – faster than the 50.55 run by Courtney Okolo to win the gold medal Saturday at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham – McLaughlin knows there are areas of her 400 race that can still be refined.

“The race itself, there’s things to work on, there’s always improvements, so that’s what I’m going to try to fix,” said McLaughlin, who elevated to the No. 18 all-time performer in the world.

“Flo and I sit down and talk about our goals and our plans and regardless of what the turnout is, we always know what we’re looking for in the future. Indoor and the 400s are just a setup for what’s really coming outdoors.”

In order for Kentucky to keep pace with Arkansas, Georgia and USC, McLaughlin has also been entered in the 200, having run the race just once this season, posting a personal-best 22.95 on Feb. 10 at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational.

“I’m just out here trying to score points for my team and we’re all out here just doing our best,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a lot mentally and physically, training wise, and I think I’ve adjusted very well. I’m really grateful to my high school coaches for getting me to this point and I’m really excited for what coach Flo and I are going to do together in the future.”

In addition to trying to join Dezerea Bryant, Keni Harrison, Valerie McGovern and Sha’Keela Saunders among Kentucky’s NCAA indoor champions, McLaughlin’s immediate future also includes an opportunity to produce another memorable relay split Saturday in the 4x400, with the team title potentially being on the line.

Kayelle Clark, Faith Ross, Camacho-Quinn and McLaughlin are looking for redemption following a third-place SEC finish Feb. 25 in 3:31.96, just off the Wildcats’ season-best 3:31.65 on Jan. 20 at the Clemson Invitational.

But it could take an NCAA indoor record in order to capture the 4x400 championship, with USC returning Deanna Hill and Ellis in preparation to challenge its standard of 3:27.03 from last year.

“We know what we can do. I think on a good day, when we’re all together and we’re all helping each other out, anything is possible,” said McLaughlin, who split 51.70 at the SEC final after running a 50.96 leg at Clemson.

“I didn’t run to my best, I can say that for sure, but they all gave their best and we got PRs out of a few people, so I think that when the time comes and there is competition there, we’re going to run really fast.”

After a pair of top-six NCAA indoor finishes in the past three years, Floreal is just encouraged to have his women’s team in championship contention, and even more excited to have an athlete of McLaughlin’s caliber ready to contribute in any capacity in order to make program history.

“If Sydney runs her race and if Jasmine does her deal, I think we’ll be fine (on the 4x400),” Floreal said. “If things happen, if some magic happens, then maybe we can pick up the big one. But right now, if we can just get a trophy and get our men’s team to be top 10 or top 15, that’s plenty for us.”