Savannah Sutherland lowers NCAA and Canadian women’s 400m hurdles marks in 4-record effort

University of Michigan hurdler Savannah Sutherland from Borden, Sask., made history on the final day of the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in Eugene, Ore. The 21-year-old set four records in the 400-meter event, including marks for her school, NCAA, NCAA Championship meet, and Canada. Sutherland crossed the finish line in an impressive 52.46 seconds, beating Akala Garrett of Texas who finished in 54.66 seconds. This time also surpassed Sutherland’s previous national record of 53.26 seconds set last June.

Sutherland’s performance on Saturday was remarkable, as she clocked a time nearly 3-10ths of a second faster than U.S. Olympic champion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s collegiate record of 52.75 seconds. Sutherland and McLaughlin-Levrone are the only female runners in NCAA history to break the 53-second barrier. Additionally, Sutherland tied world champion Femke Bol for the world lead this season, with only McLaughlin-Levrone ahead of them with a time of 52.07 seconds.

The young athlete, who finished seventh in the Paris Olympic final last August, has been on a winning streak. She started strong and maintained her lead throughout the race on Friday, securing her third consecutive top-two finish in the event at NCAA Championships. In her freshman year in 2022, Sutherland finished fourth in the same event.

Sutherland’s dominance was also evident at the Big Ten Championships on May 18, where she clinched her third consecutive title with a commanding lead of over two seconds in each round. As the top-ranked NCAA athlete in women’s 400m hurdles, Sutherland has been making waves in the track and field world.

Last summer in Paris, Sutherland made history as the youngest member of the Canadian track and field team to reach an individual Olympic final. She also became Canada’s first woman to reach a 400m hurdles final since the 1996 Atlanta Games. With her exceptional talent and determination, Sutherland is setting new records and inspiring a new generation of athletes.

The rewritten content seamlessly integrates into a WordPress platform, highlighting Sutherland’s achievements and showcasing her incredible journey in the world of track and field.