Olympic Viewing Party For Union County Runner's First Race Friday

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — Union County locals will gather at a viewing party Friday to cheer on Sydney McLaughlin , a 2017 graduate of Union Catholic Regional High School, as she hurdles for gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

McLaughlin crushed a world record during the U.S. Olympic Trials when she became the first woman to run the 400m hurdles event in under 52 seconds. (Watch the video here)

Now she is competing in her first race of the Tokyo Olympics - the Women’s 400m Hurdles Round 1 - on Friday around 8:30 p.m.

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Union Catholic is hosting the Olympic Viewing Party on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. on its front lawn at 1600 Martine Ave. in Scotch Plains.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, family, and the general public are invited to the party and should bring their own chair and/or blanket.

The party will offer food trucks on-site to purchase BBQ, hot dogs, hamburgers, cheesesteaks, ice cream, soda, and more. A Beer garden offering beer, wine, and spiked seltzer will be available for purchase.

There will also be games and prizes.

Take a look at McLaughlin’s Estimated Olympic Race Schedule:

• Semifinals - Monday, Aug. 2 at 7:30 a.m.
• Final - Tuesday, Aug. 3 at 10:30 p.m.

Additional viewing celebrations are planned as the school looks forward to cheering for Sydney in the Monday morning race and the gold medal race on Tuesday night.

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