Union Catholic legend Sydney McLaughlin has track named after her at special ceremony
Double Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin rose up from her chair and flashed a huge smile across her face as she shared a warm embrace with Sister Percylee Hart, RSM, her principal when she was a student at Union Catholic High School.
Sister Percylee had just finished delivering a heartfelt speech during a special ceremony on Saturday morning in Dunellen to name the track at Columbia Park after McLaughlin, who smashed her own world record with a time of 51.46 in the 400-meter hurdles and led off the winning 4x400 relay at the Tokyo Olympic earlier this month.
Sister Percylee was part of a large contingent of Union Catholic community members who came out to support McLaughlin, who graduated from UC in 2017.
UC track and field coach Mike McCabe, who played a huge role in McLaughlin's development when he guided her to a berth on the 2016 Olympic Team when she was just 16, also gave a great speech, and UC Assistant Principal Dr. Jim Reagan Jr., UC Athletic Director Dave Luciano, and several Union Catholic alums were also on hand.
McLaughlin, who grew up in Dunellen, was ecstatic to see so many familiar faces from her alma mater.
"It means a lot to me to have so much support from Union Catholic,'' McLaughlin said as her two shiny gold medals dangled from her neck. "It was so great to see my coach, Sister Percylee, and everyone else who came out today. I really appreciate it.''
Sister Percylee was very energetic when she spoke about McLaughlin.
"I am so excited to be here as you honor your Dunellen daughter, by naming Columbia Park track in honor of her, the track where Sydney first ran on her quest to become one of the fastest female runners on Earth,'' said Sister Percylee. "As Sydney can attest, one of my two mantras for the students at Union Catholic has always been to grow your gifts and talents and become all that God calls you to be. Sydney's achievement of breaking world records and winning two gold medals gives testimony to her response to this call. Thank you, Sydney, for serving as such a wonderful role model for our students to emulate, and for being all that God calls you to be.''
"My other mantra for the students is: "Be Good, Do Good, Be a Power for Good,'' said Sister Percylee. "I believe you have to begin with being good. Sydney is good. She is humble. She chooses good over evil, and chooses kind every time. When you are a good person it will manifest itself into doing good. As a student at UC, Sydney did good by engaging in charitable school projects and by reaching out to those in need. Her kindness to others were hallmarks of her interactions And now, what an awesome position Sydney you are in to be a power for good Sydney, your worldwide recognition as an athlete has now provided you with a platform on a global level. It doesn't get better than that. I cannot wait to see the impact you will have at the global level with Jesus' message of love. Sydney, what a blessing you are to our UC Community. We are so proud of you! You are the shining example of what a role model should be. We have great faith in you, Sydney and we are so proud of you! Again, congratulations and may God continue to bless you!''
McCabe, who predicted last year that McLaughlin would win the Olympic gold and break the world record in the 400 hurdles, said Sydney is one of a kind.
"Sydney is the greatest female high school track and field athlete of all time,'' said McCabe, named the National High School Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year for 2021 by the USTFCCCA and will be inducted into the UC Hall of Fame next month. "And possibly the greatest regardless of gender. Sydney was a pleasure to coach. She is a terrific person. She's kind, caring and thoughtful. I was truly blessed to have the opportunity to be her coach for four years. I'm so happy for what Syd has done, she's achieved her goals. I'm so happy that you're happy. To me that's more important than anything. She really is a special person, who has earned her success, and for as much as people just expect it to happen for her, she has to work for it. Yes, she has talent and ability and all that, but you have to work for it, and you have to be able to do it. So that's the most unbelievable part that she could put it all together and keep it all together because that's the ultimate challenge.''
The 22-year-old McLaughlin, who was recently engaged to marry former NFL wide receiver Andre Levrone Jr., has inspired so many people, but not just through her success on the track and her global fame, but also through her kindness, faith, and humility. Just ask her high school friends.
"I'm here today out of respect for Sydney and her accomplishments and what a genuinely good person she is,'' said Paul Armento, who graduated from UC with McLaughlin in '17. "They don't give out a gold medal for being a great person, but if they did, Sydney would win that also.''
Sean Dorcellus, another member of UC's Class of 2017, has been friends with McLaughlin for several years. He was in Tokyo during the Olympics as a member of NBC's production team, and was able to spend time with McLaughlin while they were there.
"Sydney and I have been friends since we were freshmen at Union Cathollic,'' said Dorcellus. "Sydney's impact on my life has been immeasurable. She has inspired me and motivated me ever since high school to be the best I could be. We made a pact in 2017 that we'd both be in Tokyo with her winning the gold, and me pursuing my career as well. And there we were. It all started for us at UC. The environment at UC enabled us both to get where we are today.''
Jennifer Stockl, who graduated from UC in 1985, came to the ceremony with her father, Jake.
"I'm just so proud of Sydney, and I think her work ethic and her faith is what is so inspiring about her,'' said Stockl. "To young girls, to young athletes, and to me as a mom, she is just such a great inspiration. And she's such a wonderful and kind person, a perfect role model.''
As impressive as McLaughlin is on the track, she showed once again on Saturday that she's just as impressive off of it.
Right after the ceremony concluded, McLaughlin immediately headed over to interact with the hundreds of admirers that formed a line that stretched nearly 100 yards along the chain-link fence. McLaughlin, with graciously took selfies, talked to fans, and even hung her gold medals around the necks of children as they posed for photos with her. McLaughlin stayed until she visited with every person and family who waited their turn, which took her nearly two hours. And during that whole time, McLaughlin's smile never left her face.
