Masai Russell, center, after winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. (USA Olympic Photo)
Masai Russell had a superb track career at Kentucky but has emerged into a world-class star in the last two years.
The 24-year-old Russell won the gold at the Paris Olympics in the 100-meter hurdles in 12.33 seconds to edge France’s Cyréna Samba-Mayela. That put her name on the world-wide sports scene.
Now she’s put an exclamation point beside that Olympic moment as she set an American record in the 100-meter hurdles Friday by finishing in 12.17 seconds. It was the second-fastest time in world history during the Grand Slam Track League race in Miramar, Fla.
Russell edged American Tia Jones, who finished in 12.19 seconds, the third-fastest time in history. The tailwind of two meters per second fell just within the legal parameters to make the time an official record. Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan holds the world record with a 12.12, achieved at the 2022 world championships in Eugene, Ore.
Kendra Harrison, another former UK hurdler, had set the American record of 12.20 seconds in 2016. Russell broke the collegiate record in 2023 at the Texas Relays with her time of 12.36 seconds — a record that still stands.
“I wasn’t expecting that. I always tell y’all when it’s time for me to run fast, I love to run fast. I just went out there to compete,” Russell told media members after her amazing performance on Friday.
It was a terrific bounce back race by Russell after she finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles in Kingston, Jamaica, just over a month ago.
“The conditions weren’t on my side in Kingston, personally speaking,” Russell said after her record-setting run. “Today, I know if I had the wind to my back, I’m very competitive against anybody in the world. I wanted to (do) better than I did from Kingston, that was the goal.”
Russell ran again Saturday in a flat 100-meter, the second event of the women’s short hurdles category. She finished fourth in 11.40 seconds behind Ackera Nugent (11.09), Megan Tapper (11.33) and Harrison (11.35). Even though she was fourth, it was still a personal best time for Russell.
