Masai Russell Qualifies For World Championships, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Wins 400m National Championship

EUGENE, Ore. — Kentucky track & field graduate Masai Russell leaned her way, literally, into the final qualification spot for the upcoming World Athletics Championships and will represent Team USA in Budapest, Hungary this August.

The Bowerman semifinalist and 100H collegiate record holder added to a year full of incredible accomplishments this evening when she finished third in the women’s 100H, leaning two thousands of a second (12.458) at the line ahead of Alaysha Johnson (12.460) in fourth. This will be the first time Russell will represent the United States in an international competition.

Slightly ahead of Russell was UKTF alumnus Keni Harrison who finished second overall with a time of 12.42 and will join Russell in Hungary this fall.

Earlier in the evening, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone stole the show after winning the women’s 400m national championship. The UK class of 2018 member stormed across the line at a spectacular 48.74 seconds for a new world lead, meet record, and personal best. Her time was only four thousands of a second off the national record and a second from the world record. McLaughlin-Levrone will represent the United States at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August for the third time in her career.

Meanwhile, additional UKTF alumni members Abby Steiner & Daniel Roberts advanced to the next rounds of their respective events this evening. Steiner finished second in her heat and fourth overall in the women’s 200m with a time of 22.31 (0.2)Q to advance to the semifinal tomorrow night.

Roberts won his heat and placed third overall in the men’s 110H first round with a time of 13.12 for the automatic qualification while Harrison was second in her respective heat in the women’s 100H earning the automatic qualification with a time of 12.45 (0.5) to place second overall.

It was a big day for incoming Wildcats at the U-20 USATF Championships. Women’s long jumper Morgan Davis placed third with a jump of 19’4.25”/5.90m (-0.3) to punch a ticket to the U-20 Pan America Games in Puerto Rico in August. She joins incoming recruit Alexander Chukwukelu in representing the United States after he also solidified a third place finish in the men’s 110H with a time of 13.45 Friday evening.

The USATF U-20 Outdoor Championships and USATF Outdoor Championships will conclude tomorrow for UKTF.

Below is a list of current UKTF student-athletes, incoming UKTF student-athletes, and UKTF alumni that are competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships and USATF U-20 Outdoor Championships this weekend.

Men

• Christian Coleman (UK Volunteer Assistant Coach, UT alumnus) – 100m, 200m
• Keaton Daniel – Pole Vault
• Andrew Evans (Class of 2014) – Discus
• Brian Faust – 400m
• Miles Jones (U20) – 100m
• Daniel Roberts (Class of 2019) – 110m hurdles
• Ethan Shalaway (Class of 2018) – Javelin Throw
• Josh Sobota – Shot Put

Women

• Ava Alexander (U20) – Triple Jump
• Karimah Davis – 200m
• Morgan Davis (U20) – Long Jump
• Charity Griffith – High Jump
• Micaela Hazlewood (Class of 2019) – Discus
• Keni Harrison (Class of 2015) – 100m hurdle
• Alexis Holmes (UKTF Class of 2022) – 400m
• Cynteria James (U20) – 100m, 200m, 400m
• Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (UKTF Class of 2018) – 400m
• Javianne Oliver (UKTF Class of 2016) – 100m
• Masai Russell – 100m Hurdles
• Abby Steiner (UKTF Class of 2022) – 200m
• Sha’Keela Saunders (Class of 2017) – Long Jump
• Shelby Wingler (U20) – Shot Put

Live results can be found at results.usatf.org and results.usatf.org/2023U20Outdoors/.

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster for each day of the competition.

The meet will be streamed live on USATF.tv each day as well as CNBC from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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