Track & Field
June 20, 2021 - 11:27 PM

UKTF Alumna Keni Harrison Headed to Olympics

by Tony Neely and Jake Most

EUGENE, Oregon – Keni Harrison, who competed for the University of Kentucky in 2014-15, affirmed one of the biggest redemption stories of the United States Track and Field Olympic Team Trials, qualifying for Team USA on Sunday at Hayward Field. She won the U.S. Olympic Trials 100-meter hurdles final in 12.47 seconds.

Harrison’s performance in the 100-meter hurdles was a mixture of relief and redemption after not making the Olympics in 2016. Ironically, just two weeks after the ’16 Olympic Trials she set the world record (12.20 seconds) that still stands, as a statement of the intent that she wouldn’t be deterred. Her indefatigable determination was on display once again on Sunday.

Having to wait five long years for another Olympic opportunity, Harrison left no doubt Sunday night.

First, Harrison advanced to the finals by winning her semifinal heat wire-to-wire at 12.50 seconds. Less than two hours later, she won the finals with a picture-perfect streak of 12.47.

“All the glory goes to God, just to come out here and do what I knew I could do,” Harrison said. “I’m so glad I can put the past behind me and move forward.

“I try not to think of it as pressure. I know what I’m capable of, just to come out here and execute and cross the line first, and get the opportunity to go to the Olympics, means everything. I’ve worked so hard for this moment and I’m looking forward to it.”

It has been a big week for Harrison. In addition to making the U.S. Olympic Team, on Tuesday it was announced that she is one of the six Wildcats named to the 2021 class of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame.

Harrison is one of the greatest athletes in UK track and field history. As a senior, she was named National Track Athlete of the Year after winning the NCAA championship in the 60m indoor hurdles and 100m outdoor hurdles. She also was a five-time SEC gold medalist. An exemplary student, she earned Academic All-America and received the NCAA Top 10 Award.

Harrison became the second Wildcat in as many nights to become a United States Olympian. On Saturday, Javianne Oliver earned a slot on Team USA by finishing second in the finals of the 100m dash. Oliver and Harrison join Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (Puerto Rico – 100m hurdles) on the list of Wildcat alumni to punch their tickets to Tokyo so far.

Also in action Sunday night was Katy Kunc (class of 2018), who advanced to the finals of the 3000m steeplechase. Turning in remarkably consistent lap splits, Kunc placed 13th with a personal-best time of 9:37.85. The steeplechase finals will be Thursday.

Looking ahead to Monday, two Wildcats will compete in finals events – redshirt freshman Keaton Daniel in the pole vault and Ethan Shalaway (class of 2018) in the javelin throw.

Tuesday and Wednesday will be rest days before the competition resumes Thursday with Kunc and eight additional Wildcats in action. More UK alumni and current Cats are entered in the meet and will be covered as they compete.

The 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo were postponed last year, but are still being known as the 2020 Olympics.

How to qualify for the Olympics
The top three finishers in each event, so long as they have the Olympic qualifying standard which was established by World Athletics months ago, will automatically earn spots on Team USA for the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held in in Tokyo in July-August 2021.

Olympic team trials and their equivalent meetings are taking place across the world in the coming days and weeks.

*U.S Olympic Teams Trials Schedule \| All Times Pacific (local) and subject to change.*
Day 1 – Friday, June 18, 2021
Discus Throw		Women	Qualifying		4. Micaela Hazlewood (Class of 2019): 195’11″/59.72m q
400m		Women	1st Round		17. Chloe Abbott (Class of 2020): 52.52
High Jump		Women	Qualifying		Annika Williams (Scratched)
100m		Women	1st Round		2. Javianne Oliver (Class of 2017): 10.96Q (+1.1) \| PB 7. Dezerea Bryant (Class of 2015): 11.09 (+0.8) \| SB
10,000m		Men	Final		17. Jacob Thomson (Class of 2018): 28:42.08
Day 2 – Saturday, June 19, 2021
Javelin Throw		Men	Qualifying		12. Ethan Shalaway (Class of 2018): 223’3″/68.04m q
Pole Vault		Men	Qualifying		T1. Keaton Daniel: 18’6.5″/5.65m q
100m Hurdles		Women	1st Round		1. Keni Harrison (Class of 2015/ UK Athletics HoF): 12.49Q (-0.3) 19. Masai Russell: 13.09 (+0.1) 26. Faith Ross: 13.32 (-0.3)
100m		Men	1st Round		24. Lance Lang: 10.27
100m		Women	Semi-Finals		2. Javianne Oliver (Class of 2017): 10.83wQ (+2.3) 9. Dezerea Bryant (Class of 2015): 11.03w (+2.3)
Discus Throw		Women	Final		2. Micaela Hazelwood: 205’2″/62.54m
100m		Women	Final		2. Javianne Oliver (Class of 2017): 10.99 (-1.0), makes U.S. Olympic Team
Day 3 – Sunday, June 20, 2021
100m Hurdles		Women	Semi-Finals				2. Keni Harrison (Class of 2015/UK Athletics HoF): 12.50Q (+1.3)
3000m Steeplechase		Women	1st Round				13. Katy Kunc (Class of 2018): 9:37.85q \| Personal best
100m Hurdles		Women	Final				1. Keni Harrison (Class of 2015/UK Athletics HoF): 12.47 (+0.8), makes U.S. Olympic Team
Day 4 – Monday, June 21, 2021
3:30 p.m.	Pole Vault			Men		Final		Keaton Daniel
4:15 p.m.	Javelin Throw			Men		Final		Ethan Shalaway
4:29 p.m.	3000m Steeplechase			Men		1st Round
4:40 p.m.	Triple Jump			Men		Final
5:05 p.m.	1500m			Women		Final
5:28 p.m.	800m			Men		Final
5:40 p.m.	5000m			Women		Final

Day 5 – Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Rest Day
Day 6 – Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Rest Day
Day 7 – Thursday, June 24, 2021
1:25 p.m.	Hammer Throw			Women		Qualifying
1:30 p.m.	Shot Put			Women		Qualifying
5:00 p.m.	Pole Vault			Women		Qualifying		Olivia Gruver (transferred to Washington for senior year)
5:45 p.m.	Long Jump			Women		Qualifying		Kenyattia Hackworth (Class of 2015), Sha’Keela Saunders (Class of 2018)
6:04 p.m.	1500m			Men		1st Round
6:31 p.m.	200m			Women		1st Round		Dezerea Bryant
7:00 p.m.	800m			Women		1st Round
7:05 p.m.	Discus Throw			Men		Qualifying
7:32 p.m.	400m Hurdles			Men		1st Round		Sydney McLaughlin (2018), Kiah Seymour (2016), Masai Russell, Faith Ross
8:00 p.m.	Shot Put			Women		Final
8:04 p.m.	5000m			Men		1st Round
8:47 p.m.	3000m Steeplechase			Women		Final		Katy Kunc (Class of 2018)
Day 8 – Friday, June 25, 2021
1:00 p.m.	Javelin Throw			Women		Qualifying
1:30 p.m.	Long Jump			Men		Qualifying
2:04 p.m.	200m			Men		1st Round		Lance Lang, EJ Floreal (Class of 2019)
2:33 p.m.	110m Hurdles			Men		1st Round		Daniel Roberts (2019), Nick Anderson (Class of 2016), Tai Brown
3:00 p.m.	High Jump			Men		Qualifying
3:02 p.m.	800m			Women		Semi-Finals
3:18 p.m.	400m Hurdles			Men		Semi-Finals
3:30 p.m.	Discus Throw			Men		Final
3:35 p.m.	400m Hurdles			Women		1st Round
4:05 p.m.	1500m			Men		Semi-Finals
4:25 p.m.	200m			Women		Semi-Finals
4:42 p.m.	3000m Steeplechase			Men		Final
Day 9 – Saturday, June 26, 2021
9:00 a.m.	20km Race Walk			Men		Final
9:01 a.m.	20km Race Walk			Women		Final
1:15 p.m.	100m Hurdles			Women		Heptathlon
2:30 p.m.	High Jump			Women		Heptathlon
4:05 p.m.	Hammer Throw			Women		Final
4:40 p.m.	Shot Put			Women		Heptathlon
5:30 p.m.	Javelin			Women		Final
5:38 p.m.	200m			Women		Heptathlon
5:40 p.m.	Pole Vault			Women		Final
6:03 p.m.	110m Hurdles			Men		Semi-Finals
6:19 p.m.	400m Hurdles			Women		Semi-Finals
6:30 p.m.	Long Jump			Women		Final
6:35 p.m.	400m Hurdles			Men		Final
6:44 p.m.	10,000m			Women		Final
7:24 p.m.	200m			Women		Final
7:33 p.m.	200m			Men		Semi-Finals
7:51 p.m.	110m Hurdles			Men		Final
Day 10 – Sunday, June 27, 2021
1:00 p.m.	Long Jump			Women		Heptathlon
1:30 p.m.	High Jump			Men		Final
2:15 p.m.	Javelin Throw			Women		Heptathlon
3:50 p.m.	800m – B			Women		Heptathlon
4:00 p.m.	Long Jump			Men		Final
4:04 p.m.	800m – A			Women		Heptathlon
4:20 p.m.	400m Hurdles			Women		Final
4:30 p.m.	5000m			Men		Final
4:52 p.m.	800m			Women		Final
5:10 p.m.	1500m			Men		Final
5:22 p.m.	200m			Men		Final