NJ Hurdler To Become Youngest U.S. Track And Field Olympian In Decades

SCOTCH PLAINS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A New Jersey teenager is headed to Rio.

Once Sydney McLaughlin runs at the Olympics, she'll be on record as the youngest U.S. track and field Olympian since 1972.

As CBS2's Alice Gainer reported, in many ways 16-year-old McLaughlin is a typical teenager.

"I have a social life, and school, and friends. There's homework, and family, and so much going on," she said.

Make that a typical New Jersey teenager.

"I listen to Jersey club music," she said.

Unlike other people her age the soon to be Union Catholic High School senior is headed to the Olympics, after taking third in the women's 400m hurdles at the Olympic trials in Oregon.

"Two days later it kinda hit me that everything had happened, and I was an Olympian. I was like 'this is crazy," she said.

Her face is also on Gatorade bottles after being named the Gatorade National Female Athlete of the Year.

Before getting to this moment, Sydney had to overcome several personal hurdles over the past year.

During the indoor season she was sidelined with a bought of mono. This past spring her mother suffered a heart attack.

"To deal with those I turned to track, turned to running, and I would take my anger out on the track," she said.

McLaughlin has been running since the age of six. She comes from a family of runners. Her parents, brothers, and sisters all run. Her parents will join her in Rio.

McLaughlin said she'll miss the opening ceremony. She plans to celebrate her 17th birthday at home with friends.

"It's also important to just live life, and not stress over track 24/7," she said.

Her motto going into the games -- "whatever happens, happens."

"Medaling isn't really on my mind. Place isn't on my mind. Time isn't on my mind, because anything could happen," she said.

The way things have happened for this track star, anything could mean gold.

McLaughlin has been breaking records since her first freshman meet. She set a new world junior record this summer.

As for what birthday present the young budding superstar is hoping for -- she just wants a new iPhone.