It was on August 4, 2021 that she won a fantastic Olympic final in Tokyo by improving her own world record to 51.46 (from 51.90 five weeks earlier).
Second Dalilah Muhammad had 51.58 and third Femke Bol set a European record with 52.03.
Now she started with 100 meters hurdles, which she often runs in the pre-season, and won at 12.75, which was one tenth from last year's personal record.
"In a good position"
- It was cool to be back.
I just wanted to start my season strong and get an idea of the form.
This is not my most important race, but I wanted a good time and when the season starts I will do it from a good position, says McLaughlin to NJ.com.
The strong believer McLaughlin has fond memories of high school competitions at Franklin Field in Philadelphia for her Union Catholic 2017. Then she ran the last distance of 4x400 meters in "Penn Relays" with a flying start of 50.37, the fastest time a high school student had.
- These are wonderful memories because I not only represented New Jersey but also the USA against Jamacia, McLaughlin says about the memory as a 17-year-old.
The big goal of the season is the World Cup, which will be decided for the first time in the USA, in mid-July.
It is decided at Hayward Field in Euguene, Oregon, the place where she set her first world record in the 400 meter hurdles last year.