Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Wins 400m, Russell and Harrison Headed to Hungary

Former Wildcats continue to dominate on the track in Eugene, OR. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is now a national champion while Masai Russell and Kendra “Keni” Harrison will join McLaughlin-Levrone in Hungary next month to represent the red, white, and blue.

We’ll start with the newly graduated Russell, who finished third in the women’s 100 hurdles at the national championships on Saturday with a time of 12.458 seconds. Russell, a Bowerman semifinalist and collegiate record holder in the 100H, will be representing Team USA in the upcoming World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary in August.

Keni Harrison, another former Wildcat and UKTF star, barely beat out Russell in the 100H to place second with a time of 12.42. Harrison and Russell will take their UK connection to Budapest as they will both be representing Team USA in the 100H.

That's how it's done😼@KentuckyTrack's @masai_russell is headed to the World Championships in the 100H after placing 🥉 with a time of 12.46! Congratulations Masai! pic.twitter.com/PIYBxigwaC

— Kentucky Athletics (@UKAthletics) July 9, 2023

Former ‘Cats continued to make noise throughout Saturday evening as McLaughlin-Levrone won the women’s 400-meter national championship. As a result of placing first and putting up an unbelievable time of 48.74 seconds, McLaughlin-Levrone set a new personal best and meet record.

“The greats always push themselves,” McLaughlin-Levrone said on the CNBC telecast. “I want to be one of them so I push myself and get out of my comfort zone.”

Go, Syd, go

After falling just 0.6 seconds short of the national record and one second short of the world record, McLaughlin-Levrone will make up the trio of former UKTF athletes heading to Budapest. This accomplishment will mark the third time in her career that McLaughlin-Levrone has represented Team USA at the World Athletics Championships.

Abby Steiner and Daniel Roberts, two more UKTF alums, are also competing in the national championships and have been putting up impressive numbers. Each of the two advanced to their next rounds on Saturday after Steiner finished fourth overall in the women’s 200m and Roberts placed third overall in the men’s 110H.

Steiner will compete again in the 200m semifinals on Sunday night at 8:45 p.m. EST on CNBC. Roberts will look to advance out of the 110H semifinals on Sunday night at 9:02 p.m. EST. The finals for both events will take place late into Sunday evening.

LOOK WHAT SYD JUST DID 😲#USATFOutdoors pic.twitter.com/tLat3T8Kz1

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 9, 2023

Exciting things ahead for the ‘Cats

Two incoming UKTF athletes also shined in the U-20 USATF Championships on Saturday. Morgan Davis placed third in the women’s long jump with a jump of 19’4.25″/5.90m to get a spot for the U-20 Pan America Games that are taking place in Puerto Rico next month. Fellow Wildcat recruit Alexander Chukwukelu will also represent Team USA at the U-20 Pan America Games in August after a third-place finish in the men’s 110H with a time of 13.45 seconds.

It should be an exciting upcoming season with lots of incoming talent to look forward to for Kentucky Track and Field.