It will be a "double debut" for the Olympic qualifier and high school phenom.
Sydney McLaughlin's first performance this spring will be somewhat of a double debut.
Eyeing her fourth national record, the Olympic qualifier and high school phenom from Union Catholic will head to the Arcadia Invitational in Los Angeles, California and make her season debut April 8, running a race she's never run before.
PLUS: N.J. teen sensation Sydney McLaughlin clears first Olympic hurdle
All eyes will be on McLaughlin as she runs the 300-meter hurdles for the first time in her career. The event -- which is not a featured event in New Jersey -- is one less turn than the tradition 400-meter race.
Last summer, McLaughlin set the national high school and the World Junior record in the 400 hurdles when she ran 54.15 to finish third at the U.S. Olympic Trials. That performance sent her to Rio De Janiero, Brazil as the youngest Olympic qualifier for track and field in four decades. McLaughlin also set national high school records for the open 300 and 400 during the indoor season.
On April 8, McLaughlin will try to break a 26-year-old record set by Lashinda Demus when she ran 39.98 in 1991. Demus, the American record holder in the 400 hurdles, won a World Championship in 2011 and was an Olympic silver medalist in 2012.
McLaughlin, who will continue her collegiate career at the University of Kentucky next year, will be joined by her teammates in California as Union Catholic is set to enter the girls 4x400 and 4x800 while the boys run the 4x800 and distance medley.
Pat Lanni may be reached at planni@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatLanniHS. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook.