Emmi Scales Named SEC Women’s Indoor Scholar Athlete of the Year

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Wildcat hurdler Emmi Scales has been named the 2026 SEC Women’s Indoor Scholar Athlete of the Year, per the release from the conference office Tuesday afternoon.

Scales has enjoyed a historic junior season for the Wildcats, currently ranking as the NCAA’s No. 1 hurdler in the women’s 60m hurdles event with a time of 7.83 earned at the Tiger Paw Invitational on Feb. 13. That time also ranks as the world No. 3 mark for the 2026 season, as well as the second-fastest time in Kentucky history, behind only former Wildcat and Olympic Gold Medalist Masai Russell for the program record at 7.75.

She has earned three hurdles event wins thus far this season, including wins at the Commodore Winter Challenge, Rod McCravy Memorial and the Crossroads of America Invitational.

Off the track, Scales is a two-time USTFCCCA Academic All-American and a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll Recipient. She earned a 3.871 GPA for the 2025 fall semester and is majoring in criminal justice.

Scales and the Wildcats are preparing for the 2026 SEC Indoor Championships this week, starting on Thursday, Feb. 26 in Bryan-College Station, Texas, where she will look to earn the first medal of her collegiate career.

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