Russell runs world-leading 12.25 seconds to elevate to No. 2 all-time American competitor and equal No. 4 wind-legal performer in global history; Johnson edges Stark for second by 12.302 to 12.309 margin, with all three podium athletes becoming first-time Olympians

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Chuck Aragon and Tim Healy

EUGENE, Ore. – Masai Russell contributed to several championship relay performances at New Balance Nationals during a stellar high school career at Bullis School in Maryland, but she was never able to celebrate an individual title.

Russell became the first female athlete in NCAA Division 1 history to secure All-America first-team honors in both the 100-meter hurdles and 400 hurdles in three consecutive years during a remarkable collegiate career at Kentucky, and yet, the individual national crown still eluded her.

The 24-year-old Nike professional athlete even finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in March in Scotland, but only after taking third at the U.S. indoor final in February in New Mexico.

But when it came time to compete against arguably the deepest women’s 100 hurdles field in American history Sunday at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials final, Russell delivered the finest performance of her career by clocking a world-leading 12.25 seconds to capture her long-awaited first national championship.

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Russell elevated to the No. 2 all-time U.S. competitor, trailing only three marks by Keni Harrison, including her 2016 American record of 12.20 in London.

Alaysha Johnson, representing More Sports Management Group, secured second place by a 12.302 to 12.309 margin against Florida star and reigning NCAA Division 1 champion Grace Stark. Both competitors are recognized as equal to the No. 5 wind-legal performers in U.S. history at 12.31.

Nia Ali (12.37), Tonea Marshall (12.38) and Harrison (12.39) all ran fast enough to make every previous Olympic roster in U.S. history, but finished fourth, fifth and sixth, after first-time Olympians Russell, Johnson and Stark all produced marks better than the 2000 meet record of 12.33 established by Gail Devers.

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, another former Kentucky standout representing Puerto Rico, captured the 2021 Olympic gold medal in Tokyo clocking 12.37.

Russell, who surged over the final three hurdles in order to rally from an early deficit against Johnson, grabbed the global lead from France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela, who won the European Athletics Championships gold medal June 8 by running 12.31 in Rome, Italy.

Russell also equaled the No. 4 all-time wind-legal competitor in the world, with Johnson and Stark matching the No. 11 performer in global history.

With a fifth career world record from Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400-meter hurdles following her 50.65 performance to conclude the meet, former Kentucky athletes swept the Olympic Trials women’s 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles titles in Oregon.

Russell, Johnson and Stark are looking to extend the streak to seven consecutive Olympics with at least one American female athlete earning a medal in the 100 hurdles, in addition to challenging for a potential fifth all-time gold for the country in August in Paris.

The U.S. could also contend for a potential sweep of the podium, just like the country did in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.