Olympics-Athletics-McLaughlin-Levrone eases into 400m hurdles final

By Amy Tennery

PARIS (Reuters) - American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone removed any remaining doubt that she is the overwhelming Olympic 400 metres hurdles favourite as she jogged through the finish to win her semi-final in 52.13 seconds on Tuesday.

The Tokyo champion has made a habit of lowering the world record - most recently at the U.S. trials in 50.65 - and fans will hope to see her set a new all-time mark for a sixth time in Thursday's final.

McLaughlin-Levrone assumed the lead immediately, the only flaw in her race a small stutter before the fourth hurdle, with home hope Louise Maraval (53.83) earning wild applause from the Parisian crowd as she crossed the line second.

Femke Bol (52.57), the only other woman to break the 51-second barrier, slowed down before she reached the penultimate barrier to finish first in her heat, three days after she delivered gold for the Netherlands in the mixed relay.

American Anna Cockrell (52.90) overtook Jamaican Shiann Salmon (53.13) down the final straight to finish second.

Jamaica's Rushell Clayton won her heat in 53.00, with American Jasmine Jones (53.83) second.

The first two in each of the three heats, plus the two fastest losers, advanced to the final.

(Reporting by Amy Tennery, editing by Ed Osmond)