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Masai Russell continues to do Masai Russell things

Jack PIlgrimby: Jack Pilgrim08/03/25
Syndication: The Register Guard
Masai Russell wins the women’s 100-meter hurdles during day three of the USATF Outdoor & Para National Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene on Aug. 2, 2025.

Former Kentucky track superstar Masai Russell has had a heck of a year. She called her shot last summer at the 2024 Paris Olympics, going into the event saying, “Masai Russell will be an Olympic gold medalist.” Consider it spoken into existence, the former Wildcat earning gold in the Women’s 100M Hurdle Final with a time of 12.33.

From there, she made American history by running the second-fastest 100mH time in world history while setting a U.S. record in the process with a time of 12.17 seconds. That was at the Grand Slam Track Miami meet back in May, just five hundredths shy of Nigerian Tobi Amusan’s world record set at the 2022 World Championships.

Her 12.17-second mark topped former Kentucky star Keni Harrison’s record of 12.20 previously set in 2016.

Up next? The 24-year-old track sensation defending her 100mH national title at the Toyota USA Track and Field Championships. That came this weekend at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, Russell comfortably beating the field to become a three-time U.S. champion — including back-to-back USATF Outdoor 100mH titles.

Check out her dominant performance below:

And another angle:

She missed two months with an ankle injury and returned right back to where she belongs at the top of the 100mH mountain on the biggest stage.

“All the goals that I’ve written down except for the world record have come to fruition,” she said, according to NBC Sports.

This run from 2024-2025 now gives her an Olympic gold medal, two American championships and one American record.

Up next? The 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, starting on Sept. 13 and running through Sept. 21.

I’ve got my money on Masai Russell.

During her time in Lexington, the former Wildcat was an 11-time All-American, Bowerman Semifinalist and All-SEC member. Her stardom has only grown in the years since, becoming one of the fastest women in the world with gold at every turn.

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2025-09-16