Kentucky’s Masai Russell breaks collegiate record in 100M Hurdles

Another day, another collegiate record for Kentucky track and field superstar Masai Russell — again in the state of Texas, in fact.

Taking part in the Texas Relays in Austin, TX on Saturday, the Wildcat standout set the women’s 100-meter hurdle record with a blazing time of 12.36 (+2.0) seconds. Russell beat the mark of 12.39 seconds previously set by Brianna Rollins of Clemson back in 2013. The Potomac, Maryland native also moved up to No. 1 in program history, topping Jasmine Camacho-Quinn’s previous record of 12.40 seconds.

MASAI. RUSSELL.

🔥 12.36 (+2.0) 🔥

COLLEGIATE RECORD.pic.twitter.com/3pCckZKxdz

— USTFCCCA (@USTFCCCA) April 1, 2023

Russell previously set the 60-meter hurdle record with a 7.75-second finish at Texas Tech’s Red Raider Open. It was a mark that surpassed the decade-long record held by — again — Brianna Rollins back in 2013 with 7.78 seconds. Florida’s Grace Stark tied the record in the 2022 Division I championships, but the Kentucky star topped both back in January.

COLLEGIATE RECORD @masai_russell 7.75 in the 60m hurdles! #HurdleU 🚧 pic.twitter.com/pyZdPkId8m

— UK Track & Field (@KentuckyTrack) January 20, 2023

Russell joins a long list of record-holders in the UK Athletics family that includes Abby Steiner (200m indoor and outdoor, 2022), Sydney McLaughlin (400m hurdles, 2018) and UK’s 2022 4×400 outdoor relay (Megan Moss, Steiner, Karimah Davis, Alexis Holmes). 

And it wasn’t just a standout day for Russell individually. The Wildcat star also helped lead UK to a runners-up finish in the women’s 4×100 meter relay with a total time of 42.81 seconds, good for fifth on the school’s all-time performers list. Teammates Anthaya Charlton, Victoria Perrow, and Karimah Davis were also included in that group.

Elsewhere for the program on day three of the Texas Relays, Dajour Miles, Shadajah Ballard, Iantha Wright, and Reynei Wallace placed fourth in the women’s 4×200 meter relay with a time of 1:34.53. 

Individually, Charlton and Perrow finished with personal bests in the women’s 100-meter dash, with the former putting up a time of 11.13 (0.2) seconds for a second-place finish. That’s good for fifth all-time in school history. As for Perrow, she placed sixth with a time of 11.29 (0.2), tied for eighth all-time at Kentucky.

Charlton also recorded a personal best in the long jump with a finish of 21’4.75”/6.52 meters, good for third in the event and third overall all-time at UK.

Among other notes from UK Athletics on the impressive day for the T&F program:

• Kennedy Lightner recorded a personal best time of 20.46 (0.8) in the men’s 200 meters to place seventh. 
• Lightner also placed third with Wayne Lawrence Jr., Justin Swann, and Brian Faust in the men’s 4×400 meter relay with a time of 3:04.01 after setting the fastest time in the nation during the prelims. The time ranks sixth on the UK all-time performers list. 
• Logan Coles recorded a personal best in the hammer throw at Texas State (Bobcat Invitational) today throwing 209’7”/63.87 meters. His mark ranks fifth on the UK all-time performers list. 
• Jenna Schwinghamer, Deanna Martin, Phoebe McCowan, Bryanna Lucas, and Alex Justus all took part in the 800-meter run on day two of the Stanford Invite Day
• McCowan hit a personal best time of 2:06.73 in the race while Schwinghamer ran a time of 2:04.95, Martin a 2:06.66, Lucas a 2:09.34 and on the men’s side, Justus a 1:51.07. 

Big day for all of the Wildcats, but none bigger than Masai Russell.