LOS ANGELES, Calif. (June 27, 2016) -- Two days after capturing the USATF Junior Nationals title in the 400m hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin was presented with the Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year award via a surprise visit from Allyson Felix.
The national high school record holder for 400m hurdles left Fresno, Calif. --the site of the USATF Junior Nationals this weekend-- at 7 a.m. this morning for a brief family vacation in Los Angeles before competing at the Olympic Trials next week.
She was told that ESPN wanted to film her track workout today, but a different surprise guest awaited her on the cooldown.
"I was cooling down and I was coming around the curve and this girl jumps on the track and it's Allyson with the trophy," McLaughlin said. "I almost passed out. It was just crazy."
McLaughlin said that Felix, a four-time individual world champion and six-time Olympic medallist, is her No. 1 track and field idol.
"I remember being six years old watching her on the Olympics and I was like, 'I'm gonna be her one day!'"
Next week, they'll both be competing for sports at the Olympic Games in Rio.
McLaughlin is somewhat of a kindred spirit to Felix, who was also a precocious talent: she set the 200m national record in her senior year, turned pro upon graduating from high school and won an Olympic silver medal at age 18.
"People have always compared the two of us," McLaughlin said. "My mom says I remind her of Allyson."
With her USATF Junior Nationals title, McLaughlin qualified to compete at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Hurdling runs in the family. Sydney's brother, Taylor --an All-American this year as a true freshman for the University of Michigan-- also won the USATF Junior Nationals title in the 400m hurdles this weekend. He will join Sydney in Poland for World Juniors and is also slated to compete at the Olympic Trials.
Watch the interview below with Sydney after she won the USATF Junior Nationals title: