UK's Masai Russell Breaks SEC Championship Record in Gold Medal Sprint

Masai Russell was at her best against the best of the best. Representing the University of Kentucky at the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Russell blew by the competition with a record-breaking performance.

Russell ran the 60-meter hurdle final in 7.7 seconds, a new SEC Championship record that also set the Aransas facility record. It was only .02 slower than the NCAA record she set in January.

Kentucky has now won five of the last 10 SEC 60H golds. The other two Wildcats to win the event were gold and silver medalists in the last Olympic Games, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Keni Harrison.

Say it with us: @masai_russell is the #SECTF 60H Champion! 7.77. @SEC Championships record. Facility record. pic.twitter.com/Iyk1lOm6K9

— UK Track & Field (@KentuckyTrack) February 25, 2023

Even though the Cats are known as “Hurdle U,” that wasn’t the only event where the Wildcats brought home hardware. Annika Williams became the just third Kentucky athlete to ever win the SEC Championship in the pentathlon, and the first since 2011.

Competing in his first SEC Championship, Kentucky wide receiver Jordan Anthony finished second in the 60-meter final. The talented freshman received a silver medal for his 6.57 sprint, just .02 behind the UK freshman record he set earlier this year. In the men’s mile Dylan Allen earned bronze with a time of 4:05.26 (a time that’s hard for this blogger to wrap his mind around). Keaton Daniel took home his first title in the indoor pole vault by clearing 17’8.5″/5.40m for the win. Kentucky has now won the event in three of the last four years.

The Kentucky track and field team left the SEC Indoor Championships with nine total medals. Not too shabby for one weekend in Fayetteville.