Kentucky Track & Field athletes compete and advance in Paris Olympics
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games are in full swing, and the athletic prowess of these athletes has all of America gathering to watch. Us Kentuckians can also relish in the fact that seven Kentucky Track & Field alumni are representing the USA whilst representing the place we call home.
Daniel Roberts, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Andrew Evans, Alexis Holmes, Massai Russel, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, and Devynne Charlton (volunteer assistant) are all competing in the 2024 Games on the track, with competitions running through August 11.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, UKTF came up with a historic five-medal haul from the program’s representatives. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, both gold medalists from Tokyo, return to the Olympic stage in Paris and hope to continue their wins with company.
Who we’re watching for:
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, 400MH world record holder and defending Olympic gold medalist, began competition Sunday morning at her third Olympic games. She placed first in the fifth and final heat, finishing with a time of 53.60. She holds the world record for the event at 50.65, which was set at this year’s US Olympic Trials. She also holds the Olympic record with a time of 51.46, set at the 2020 Tokyo Games. She’ll compete in the semifinals on Tuesday in hopes of defending her gold medal.
Daniel Roberts opened competition for the Men’s 110M hurdles on Sunday morning. The Kentucky athlete earned an automatic qualification out of Round 1, finishing in third place in heat three with a time of 13.43. Roberts looks to advance to his first Olympic final after becoming a semifinalist at the Tokyo Olympics.
Andrew Evans will begin his second Olympic campaign on Monday, August 5. Evans (UK 2012-2014) claimed victory at the 2024 US Olympic Trials in the discus throw, his second national championship. During his time at Kentucky, he earned two SEC titles in the discus throw and claimed a bronze medal at the 2014 NCAA Championships.
Alexis Holmes will make her Olympic debut on Monday, August 5, competing in the Women’s 400-meter race. Holmes (UK 2019-2022) claimed a bronze medal at this year’s US Olympic Trials and looks to feature in the Women’s 4x400m race to be held August 9-10. She set the collegiate record for the 4×400 during her time at Kentucky and claimed three SEC titles.
Massai Russel (UK 2018-2023) will compete at her first-ever Olympic games after claiming gold in the Women’s 100mH race at the 2024 US Olympic Trials. Her time of 12.25 not only gave her a ticket to Paris but set the fourth fastest time in history. She had a decorated career at Kentucky as an 11-time All-American and four-time NCAA silver medalist, along with an SEC championship.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (UK 2016-2018) will compete in the games representing Puerto Rico, defending the Olympic gold medal she earned at the 2020 Tokyo Games. She’ll compete alongside Massai Russel for the gold in the Women’s 100-meter hurdle race. Like many of the athletes at the Olympics, she had a very decorated career in college, winning three NCAA championships and six SEC titles during her time at Kentucky.
Devynne Carlton is a Purdue alum who competed under Kentucky’s current head coach Lonnie Green, and is a volunteer assistant coach with UK’s program. Representing the Bahamas, she will begin her second Olympic campaign on Wednesday, August 7 in the Women’s 100mH. Carlton currently holds the world record in the 60m hurdles, claiming the title at the 2024 World Indoor championships.
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