Perfect 'Timing' Propels Masai Russell into 2024 Olympic Games

While it might seem to be stating the obvious, timing is extremely important for track athletes. For Kentucky alum Masai Russell, getting her timing right, in a couple of ways, earned her a spot on the 2024 United States Olympic track team.

In the United States Olympic Trials, Russell beat a world-class field of athletes to win the women’s 100-meter hurdles, with a time of 12.25. That time is the best in the world this year, and the fourth fastest time ever recorded. (UK alum Kendra Harrison holds the second-fastest time ever run, a 12.20 in 2016.)

Russell’s time broke the United States Olympic Trials record of 12.33 that was held by Gail Devers for 24 years. All of this despite the fact that, leading up to the Olympic Trials, Russell did not feel that she was at her best.

“I was running like 12.8 a month ago,” Russell said. “However, it’s a clean slate when you come to the (starting) line, it doesn’t matter what you’ve done to that point. It only matters what you do now.”

After crossing the finish line ahead of the field, Russell was overcome with emotion at the feat she had accomplished.

“I was super, super elated and happy. It was very emotional,” Russell said. “This was the first time I ever won at nationals, the fact that I broke the Olympic Trials record and I won in a world class field in the fastest race in history.”

Russell gives a lot of credit to UK head coach Lonnie Greene as well as volunteer coach Devynne Charlton, who holds the women’s indoor world record in the 60-meter hurdles. Charlton, specifically, has helped Russell tremendously. The two will actually race against one another in the Olympics, but Russell sees that as a positive for both of them.

“I get to train with someone who has done something that no one has ever done,” Russell said. “We just continue to push each other like we have for the last five years.”

As for Greene, he admires how hard Russell has continued to work, even after exhausting her college eligibility.

“It’s a testament to their work,” Greene said. “We all knew they had talent. But it’s a testament to their work and their intestinal fortitude. Now, they’re going to the biggest stage in the sport, the Olympic Games.”

Greene doesn’t believe that Russell’s race has been given enough historical credit.

“I don’t think it has been given the just reward it is,” Greene said. “This is the fourth-fastest time in history. Only three women have run faster in the history of the sport.”

Russell now sets her sights squarely on Paris and the 2024 Olympic Games, which take place July 26-August 11. How does Russell believe she can do?

“I think I can go faster,” she said.

As Russell proved at the Olympic Trials, it really is all about timing. She hopes that her timing is right in Paris as she attempts to bring home a gold medal.