Masai Russell won gold at her first Olympics. She might only be getting better.
Russell, a 24-year-old native of Potomac in Montgomery County, clocked the second-fastest 100-meter hurdles time in history to open the Grand Slam Track Miami meet on Friday.
The Bullis School and University of Kentucky graduate finished in 12.17 seconds, five-hundredths of a second shy of Nigerian Tobi Amusan’s world record of 12.12 set at the 2022 World Championships. It’s the fastest time in American history, breaking the mark of 12.20 set by Keni Harrison in 2016.
“I didn’t expect that, but I just went out there and competed,” Russell told reporters after the race as part of a new league founded by four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson. “It shows when you turn your brain off and compete, you don’t know what you’re capable of.”
Masai Russell just dropped a 12.17 (+2.0) and the American record with it.
Clean. Fast. Unmatched. pic.twitter.com/43ba30IErk
— Grand Slam Track (@GrandSlamTrack) May 2, 2025
It was a fast track in South Florida as Tia Jones also broke the previous American record by finishing in second place in 12.19. According to reports, the conditions featured the maximum allowable tailwind for record purposes: 2.0 meters per second.
Along with American teenager and fellow Bullis School product Quincy Wilson, Russell became one of the breakout stars of the Summer Olympics in Paris when she won a photo finish in the women’s 100-meter hurdles. She finished that race in 12.33 seconds, but had to wait another 15 seconds to learn she had beaten France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela by .01.
“I continue to say I’m one of the best hurdlers ever,” Russell said Friday. “I’m going to always stand by that.”
At the Bullis School, Russell was an eight-time national champion in the sprint relays and shuttle hurdle, a two-time national record holder in the 4×200 and shuttle hurdle and the Gatorade Maryland Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year in 2018.
“I just want every young girl to understand and know that if you believe in yourself, if you can see the work, day in and day out, there’s nothing that’s impossible for you,” Russell said after her Olympic victory. “I always tell myself that it’s possible. Can’t no-one take it away from you. This moment today was meant for me. So whatever moment that’s out there that’s meant for them, take advantage of the moment and the opportunity, because it’s meant for you.”
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