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A32 sports
Diahuebs 5 augustus 2021

McLaughlin edges Muhammad in battle of world-record hurdlers

part, because traversing 400 meters while clearing Only a day earlier, Norway’s Karsten Warholm
10 hurdles at 17 miles-per-hour is more exhausting crushed his old world record in the men’s 400 hur-
than she makes it look. dles, finishing in 45.94. Runner-up Rai Benjamin’s
46.17 also beat the old mark. Six runners in that
“There was some lactic” acid building up, she said. race set national, continental or world records.

She sat on the ground, gave a serious look toward It was a lot to live up to for the M&M duo, whose
the scoreboard — yep, it’s a record ... again — then race was even more eagerly anticipated. They ex-
got up and moved toward the hand-sanitizing sta- ceeded expectations, and left everyone else in the
tion. Muhammad came over and gave her a con- race behind.
gratulatory hug. They’ll meet again. World cham-
(AP) — Sydney McLaughlin broke the world pionships are next July. “I just went out like crazy for the first 300 to be
record. Dalilah Muhammad broke it, too. with them,” said bronze medalist Femke Bol of
“No mixed emotions,” Muhammad said. “Sure, the Netherlands, who set a European record and
Only one of the world’s best hurdlers could win there are always things you want to do better. But whose time of 52.03 would’ve been a world record
the Olympic gold medal — and McLaughlin came you use this as a springboard to the next. This is six weeks ago. “And I died a bit.”
out ahead in the latest installment of the best ri- not my last race.”
valry in track. Starting from Lane 7, Muhammad came out of the
Impressive as McLaughlin’s race was, this record blocks and made up the lag quickly — too quickly?
The 21-year-old from New Jersey won the didn’t really surprise anyone. — as they cruised down the backstretch.
400-meter hurdles title Wednesday, finishing in
51.46 seconds in yet another history-making day McLaughlin and Muhammad, a New York City na- Slowly, steadily, McLaughlin drew even, and they
on the speedy Olympic oval. tive who went to Southern Cal, have been trading were at nearly a draw when they reached the fi-
the record, and the wins, for two years. Muham- nal 100 meters. As McLaughlin and Muhammad
“Iron sharpening iron,” McLaughlin called the lat- mad first broke the mark at U.S. Nationals in Des scaled the last hurdle, it was McLaughlin who
est in her series of showdowns with Muhammad, Moines, Iowa, in 2019, then lowered it to 52.16, at moved ahead and started inching away.
each one faster than the last. “Every time we step the world championships in Qatar.
on the track, it’s always something fast.” The .12-second margin was close — but not as
McLaughlin broke that record earlier this summer close as in Doha, when McLaughlin lost by .07 in a
McLaughlin came from behind after the last hurdle at Olympic trials, running 51.9 to become the first race that changed her thinking.
to top the defending Olympic champion. Muham- woman to crack 52 seconds.
mad’s time of 51.58 also beat McLaughlin’s old re- That world championship race showed how good
cord of 51.9, set at Olympic trials in June. But in It felt inevitable that the mark would go down again McLaughlin really was, but left her with an un-
this race, it was only good enough for the silver. on a fast track in perfect, hot-and-humid running disputable reality. Muhammad, now 31 and a late
conditions in Tokyo. bloomer who didn’t have a sponsor or a spot at the
For McLaughlin, it was a muted celebration — in London Olympics in 2012, was better.

Panthers use sign at practice to cut down on mental mistakes

(AP) — When Will Grier fumbled In his first season in Miami, Flores Rhule said. “When you talk to play- plays inside the 10-yard line.
an exchange from center Matt had players sprint across the field ers, especially guys trying to make
Paradis in practice Wednesday, into the corner to slap a wall that the team, they’re always like, ‘I just “Yesterday was not good at all,” Rhule
the Carolina Panthers backup read “TNT” or “takes no talent,” to want an opportunity coach. Just give said. “They were much better today.
quarterback knew what was com- acknowledge they had made a mental me some reps.’ Well, if you get a rep First day in the red zone and I though
ing next. mistake in practice. and you jump offsides, you’re gonna we functioned well early and kept it
lose those reps and someone else gets going late.”
A few moments later, Grier and Para- Carolina players seem to be taking to those reps.”
dis found themselves running toward the idea. One of the beneficiaries was new
the sideline to tap a large sign that KIRKWOOD BACK ON SIDE- tight end Dan Arnold, whom Rhule
reads “DBO” — which stands for “I love emphasizing that we don’t LINE expects will figure big into the team’s
“don’t beat ourselves.” beat ourselves,” Grier said. “It’s a red zone plans.
good way to reemphasize it. We can Wide receiver Keith Kirkwood, who
Panthers coach Matt Rhule had the talk about it meetings, we can say it was taken the hospital on a stretcher SITTING OUT
sign hung from a temporary tent near out here, but when you got to go run after taking a hit to the neck area dur-
the main practice field at Wofford and touch that sign and you’re think- ing practice Tuesday, was back watch- The Panthers have been without two
College this week to remind players ing about it the whole time you’re ing practice Wednesday from the key defensive players this week in
the importance of avoiding mental running. So, I like it.” sideline. practice — linebacker Shaq Thomp-
mistakes. son and cornerback A.J. Bouye —
The Panthers were tied for the 12th- Kirkwood was unable to comment due to injuries.
“It’s just a reminder that hey, this is most penalties (95) in the league last because he’s in the league’s concus-
how we’re going to win games — by season, costing them 752 yards. There sion protocol.
not jumping offsides, by not having were also plenty of other mental mis-
penalties. It’s just a reminder,” Rhule takes that led to the team finishing The Panthers cut cornerback J.T. Ibe
said. 5-11 under Rhule in 2020. for what Rhule called an “inexcus-
able” hit on Kirkwood. The team
Previously Rhule had players run- “If you ever want to see anything signed former Appalachian State safe-
ning laps following a mistake. change, you have to be held account- ty safety Doug Middleton to replace
able when you make mistakes,” said him.
But Panthers assistant quarterbacks second-year defensive tackle Derrick
coach Matt Lombardi came up with Brown. OFFENSE BOUNCES BACK
the idea of running to touch a sign,
something he picked up while work- Rhule said the point of the exercise The Panthers offense bounced back
ing as an offensive quality assistant isn’t to punish players by running. from a horrendous day on Tuesday
under Miami Dolphins head coach with a strong showing in the red
Brian Flores a few years ago. “When you have to run, you’re miss- zone. Carolina seemed to score at will
ing an opportunity to be on the field,” through the air and on the ground on