Masai Russell, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Win Gold on Final Day of U.S. Olympic Trials
EUGENE, Ore. – The final night of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials was one to remember as Wildcats Masai Russell (’23) and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (UKTF 2017-18) collected gold in the 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles respectively. The Wildcats concluded the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon earning four U.S. championships and six total medals from eight days of competition. The program will send five Americans to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games in August with two additional alumni/staff representing Kentucky on the international stage.
McLaughlin-Levrone left the fans in Eugene with something to cherish forever after closing the U.S. Olympic Trials with a 400-meter hurdles world record of 50.65. It marks the fifth time in her career she has set the event world record and the second time she has won Olympic Trials gold in her career. She won the 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene in 2021 with a then-world record of 51.90. McLaughlin-Levrone will join Team USA for her third Olympics after participating in the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games winning gold in the 4×400-meter relay and 400-meter hurdles in Tokyo.
Russell joins Team USA for the first time in her career after securing her first US Championship in the 100-meter hurdles this evening. The Potomac, Maryland native stormed across the line in a world-leading 12.25. The time not only is a third-straight personal best for Russell from these trials but also takes down Gail Devers 24-year-old U.S. Olympic Trials record of 12.33 set in 2000.
The pair join UKTF alumni Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (2015-18; Team Puerto Rico), Andrew Evans (’14), Alexis Holmes (’22), Daniel Roberts (’19), and volunteer coach Devynne Charlton (Team Bahamas) on the plane to Paris.
UKTF Paris Olympics Participating Athletes
Women
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (2015-18; Team Puerto Rico) – 100mH
Alexis Holmes (’22) – 400m, relay pool
Devynne Charlton (Volunteer Coach; Team Bahamas)
Masai Russell (’23) – 100mH
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone – 400mH
Men
Andrew Evans (’14) – Discus Throw
Daniel Roberts (’19) – 110mH
Track and field events at the 2024 Paris Olympics Games begin August 1st and continue through August 11th.
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Event Results
| June 21 | Round | Status | |
| Women’s Hammer Throw | Qualifier | 20. Kate Powers: 206’7”/62.98m | |
| Men’s 400m | First Round | 8. Kennedy Lightner: 45.17Q | PR
22. Brian Faust ’23: 45.58Q |
|
| Men’s Javelin Throw | Qualifier | 10. Ethan Shalaway ’18: 231’1”/70.44m(Q) | |
| Women’s 400m | First Round | 6. Alexis Holmes ’22: 51.05Q
24. Jania Martin: 52.12q |
|
| Men’s Pole Vault | Qualifier | 4. Keaton Daniel: 18’8.25”/5.70m | |
| Women’s 100m | First Round | 10. Celera Barnes ’21: 11.06Q (+0.4)
17. Abby Steiner ’22: 11.13Q (+0.4) 18. Javianne Oliver ’17: 11.15Q (+0.9) | SB |
|
| June 22 | Round | Status | |
| Women’s High Jump | Qualifier | T-1. Charity Hufnagel: 6’0”/1.83m (q) | |
| Women’s 100m | Semifinals | 10. Celera Barnes ’21: 11.12 (+0.4)
22. Javianne Oliver ’17: 11.31 (+0.4) Abby Steiner – scratched |
|
| Men’s 100m | First Round | 14. Ronnie Baker (Vol. Coach): 10.15 (-0.1)Q | |
| Women’s 400m | Semifinals | 6. Alexis Holmes ’22: 50.19q | PR
22. Jania Martin: 52.34 |
|
| June 23 | Round | Status | |
| Men’s Pole Vault | FINAL | 4. Keaton Daniel: 19’1”/5.82m | PR | |
| Men’s 100m | Semifinals | 11. Ronnie Baker (Vol. Coach): 9.98 (+2.6) | |
| Men’s 400m | Semifinals | 15. Brian Faust ’23: 45.41
27. Kennedy Lightner: 47.88 |
|
| Men’s Javelin Throw | FINAL | 12. Ethan Shalaway ’18: 202’6”/61.73m | |
| Women’s 400m | FINAL | 3. Alexis Holmes ’22: 49.78 | PR | |
| June 24 | Round | Status | |
| Women’s Discus Throw | Qualifier | 6. Micaela Hazlewood-Lewis ’19: 195’0”/59.44m (q) | SB | |
| Men’s 110mH | First Round | 4. Daniel Roberts ’19: 13.14 (+1.2)Q | |
| Women’s High Jump | FINAL | 1. Charity Hufnagel: 6’4.25”/1.94m | PR | |
| June 27 | Round | Status | |
| Women’s Discus Throw | FINAL | 7. Micaela Hazlewood-Lewis ’19: 193’4”/58.93m | |
| Men’s 110mH | Semifinals | 3. Daniel Roberts ’19: 13.11Q | =SB | |
| Women’s 200m | First Round | 3. Abby Steiner ’22: 22.29Q | SB | |
| Women’s Long Jump | Qualifier | 13. Sha’keela Saunders ’17: 21’0.50”/6.41m (+1.8) | |
| Men’s Discus Throw | Qualifier | 2. Andrew Evans ’14: 214’3”/65.31m (q) | |
| Women’s 400mH | First Round | 1. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (2017-18): 53.07Q | SB | |
| June 28 | Round | Status |
| Women’s 100mH | First Round | 1. Masai Russell ’23: 12.35Q | PB
4. Keni Harrison ’15: 12.49Q | SB |
| Women’s 200m | Semifinals | 4. Abby Steiner ’22: 22.03 | SB |
| Men’s 110mH | FINAL | 3. Daniel Roberts ’19: 12.96 | PB |
| June 29 | Round | Status |
| Men’s Discus Throw | FINAL | 1. Andrew Evans ’14: 218’6”/66.61m |
| Women’s 100mH | Semifinals | T1. Masai Russell ’23: 12.36Q
6. Keni Harrison ’15: 12.52Q |
| Women’s 200m | FINAL | 6. Abby Steiner ’22: 22.24 |
| Women’s 400mH | Semifinals | 1. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (2017-18): 52.48Q | WL |
| June 30 | Round | Status |
| Women’s 100mH | FINAL | 1. Masai Russell ’23: 12.25 | WL, MR, PB
6. Keni Harrison ’15: 12.39 |
| Women’s 400mH | FINAL | 1. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (2017-18): 50.65 | WR |
