Paris Olympics hopeful Lauren Hoffman continued a stretch of record-shattering performances, resetting her own women’s 400-meter hurdles mark for a second-place finish in the 2024 Drake Relays in Iowa in the United States on Sunday, April 28.

Hoffman clocked 55.72 seconds, which pending the ratification, surpassed her own national record of 56.39 seconds she set just last month in a golden performance in the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational in Coral Gables, Florida.

She finished just split second behind first placer Deshae Wise of USA, who clocked 55.52 seconds, and ahead of another American in Jessica Wright, who recorded 55.78 sec.

“Another great meet in the books! New National Record of 55.72. One step closer to achieving my goals this year!,” said Hoffman in a Facebook post.

It is now the fifth time Hoffman broke a national record, having also shattered the indoor marks in the women’s 400m twice this year before also setting a new benchmark in the 100m hurdles just over a week ago.

Hoffman first erased the old mark in the 400m with a 53.91sec performance at the 2024 Clemson Bob Pollock Invitational last January only to smash it again with a 53.71 sec showing at the 2024 Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational in South Carolina a few weeks after.

As if the collection of record-breaking feats were not enough, she timed 13.41 seconds in the Duke International in Durham, North Carolina for the 100m hurdles mark.

However, her new 400m hurdles record was only her third-best time in the event and a split second slower than her personal-best of 55.47 sec. 

Still, the series of record-breaking performances should give the 25-year-old runner enough confidence as she continues to vie for a spot in the 2024 Paris Games. Hoffman can get an outright spot to this year’s Summer Olympics if she manages to reach the entry standard time of 54.85.