“At the end of the day, I just focus on running my own race,” said Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone earlier this month when asked about her bold decision to shift from her trademark 400m hurdles to the flat 400m, and about her opponents. It was a daring move, and with powerhouses like Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser in the mix, the road ahead was anything but easy. And if that wasn’t enough pressure, she carried another burden, or perhaps a chance, on her shoulders: her sponsors. So far, New Balance athletes have yet to strike gold on the world stage. With Gabby Thomas sidelined by injury, all eyes and all expectations now rest on McLaughlin-Levrone.

Gabby Thomas, who is also a New Balance-sponsored athlete, was one of the frontrunners to win a medal at the World Championships. However, t

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