You know the Prefontaine Classic: flashy, stacked, and soaked in sponsorships. It’s where the best of the best line up, and where brands like Nike run the show, quite literally. So when Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s name dropped for the women’s 400m at the 2025 edition, it felt like business as usual… until you looked a little closer. Because this time, Sydney isn’t just making her Prefontaine debut, she’s also quietly making history. And no, it’s not for another world record. Not yet, anyway.
Let’s backtrack. Sydney is no ordinary athlete; she’s the reigning Olympic champ, the world record holder in the 400m hurdles, and a four-time gold medalist who’s redefined what greatness looks like on the track. From Tokyo to Paris, she’s made Hayward Field her playground, breaking records and collecting medals like it’s casual business. Now, she’s back in Eugene, but this time, it’s for the flat 400m, a non-Diamond League event that just got a whole lot more interesting with her name on the list. But here’s where it gets bold.
The Prefontaine Classic is one of the most sponsored meets in the world. Nike has been its lead sponsor since 1978, and the 2025 edition features a long list of official partners: Wanda Diamond League, Kendall Lexus, PeaceHealth, TrackTown USA, the works. Everyone who runs there usually carries the brand weight. Everyone… except Sydney. She’s not signed with Nike. She’s a New Balance athlete, and that makes her the first non-Nike-sponsored female runner announced for the event this year. Until Sydney’s entry, the only women confirmed were field-event athletes, all of whom traditionally sport Nike gear. But this time, the headline name shows up wearing NB, not the swoosh.
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Imagine she’s running on a Nike-sponsored track, at a Nike-sponsored event, without wearing Nike. And she’s still the star. That’s power. While field athletes had been the only women confirmed till now, Sydney’s entry into the 400m opens the gates for a new narrative: elite performance doesn’t need a swoosh to shine. Sometimes, all it takes is a lane, a legacy, and Sydney.
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