Masai Russell Breaks Collegiate Record in 60-Meter Hurdles

LUBBOCK, Texas / NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Having entered the all-time collegiate top-10 list in the 60-meter hurdles just six days ago, Masai Russell zoomed to the top of the chart Friday at the Red Raider Open in Lubbock, Texas, setting the collegiate record with a scintillating time of 7.75 seconds. 

Russell eclipsed the mark of 7.78 seconds set by Grace Stark of Florida at the 2022 NCAA Championships. Russell also moved past the Kentucky standard of 7.87 seconds owned by Keni Harrison, an eventual Olympic medalist, since 2015. Harrison’s 7.87 was her winning time in the 2015 NCAA Final. 

Kentucky now owns five collegiate records as Russell joins a distinguished group that includes Abby Steiner (200m indoor and outdoor, 2022); Sydney McLaughlin (400m hurdles, 2018); and UK’s 2022 4×400 outdoor relay (Megan Moss, Steiner, Karimah Davis, Alexis Holmes).  

With the sprinters and hurdlers in Lubbock and the distance runners and field athletes in Nashville’s Vanderbilt Invitational, Kentucky totaled six wins on the day.  

Russell’s triumph was followed quickly – literally and figuratively – by Jordan Anthony, who won the men’s 60m dash in 6.55 seconds. In the process, Anthony broke the UK freshman record for the second week in a row and moved within 0.01 of the school record held by Wildcat Olympian Tim Harden.  

Next at the top of the leaderboard was senior Dajour Miles, who claimed the 400m dash with a time of 52.45 and moved to No. 5 in Kentucky history in that event.  

Senior Kennedy Lightner notched UK’s fourth win in Lubbock with a 200m dash of 20.64 seconds.

Meanwhile in Nashville, senior Keaton Daniel made it three wins in as many meets this season in the pole vault. He ascended to 18 feet, 1.25 inches / 5.52 and has won all three meets with clearances of at least 18 feet.  

Kentucky was strong in the women’s 1,000-meter run, placing 1-3-4-5 with Jenna Schwinghamer taking first place in a personal-best time of 2:42.39.  

The Wildcats totaled 16 personal bests on the day, with 11 coming in Lubbock and five more in Nashville.  

The Red Raider Open was a one-day event and has concluded. Action continues Saturday in Nashville. Here is the Vanderbilt meet schedule.   The live stream link for Saturday is http://vanderbi.lt/-qdob  The live results link is http://vanderbi.lt/j7ct3 

Red Raider Open results: https://live.pttiming.com/?mid=5363