WKYT – Lexington, KentuckyEvery sportsperson aspires to triumph.
Sydney McLaughlin developed a habit of it while she was a UK Wildcat and particularly after winning gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Young women in her home state of college, like Jordan Conner McCord, are now motivated by her accomplishment to strive for similar heights in the future.
“I think it definitely shows me that I most likely have the chance to do the same as them if someone can do it where I am from,” Conner-McCord remarked.
Having run for half her life, she qualified for the Junior Olympics in North Carolina last week, giving her a head start on the big stage.
She claims that her love, running, motivates her in every area of her life.
“That demonstrates to me my versatility and gives me the self-assurance to tackle any task at hand,” the woman remarked.
She follows in the footsteps of her mother, Laneshia Conner, a Lexington Stryders coach and UK alumna.
Laneshia said that her daughter and other runners get optimism from the Olympics’ connection to their hometown.
Shevan Threats, an assistant coach for the team and another UK alum, is supporting them and thinks that all young ladies are empowered by this year’s Olympic victories.
Threats stated, “Everyone’s watching how well our female athletes are doing, from Simone to Sydneyy to Ledecky to Asia.” “This is where it is—in our backyard.”
They anticipate that after the Olympic victory, more athletes would show interest.
For interested runners, the Lexington Stryders will begin the application process in the autumn. Further details are available on their
