EUGENE, Oregon (AP) — Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin broke her own world record in the 400-metre hurdles at the US outdoor track and field championships Saturday.

McLaughlin flashed a broad smile when her time was announced, then gave a thumbs-up. She crossed the finish line at Hayward Field in 51.41 seconds, breaking her own record of 51.46 set last year at the Tokyo Games, where she won the gold medal.

“I mean it’s Track Town USA, what do you expect?” she said afterward. “Every time I come here I can just feel something amazing is going to happen.”

Asked how she was going to celebrated afterward, McLaughlin joked: “Eating some real food besides vegetables. Like a cheeseburger or something, some pancakes.”

The top three finishers in each event at the national championships will represent the United States in the world outdoor championships, also at Eugene’s Hayward Field, next month. It is the first time that track and field’s biggest event outside of the Olympics will be held on American soil.

Temperatures at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus soared to the low 90s. Events for Sunday, the meet’s final day, were moved up earlier in the day because of the heat.

Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson made it through to the 200 final Sunday by finishing second in her heat.

Richardson, known for her ever-changing hair colour and long nails, did not qualify for the 100 final, even though she was among the favourites after winning the event at the Olympic trials last year. Richardson did not make the US team for Tokyo after she tested positive for marijuana following the race.

Richardson’s heat was marked by several late scratches, but she finished in 22.69 seconds. Kentucky’s Abby Steiner, who set a collegiate record in the 200 metres at the NCAA track and field championships, had the best time in the heats at 22.14.