Masai Russell views her triumph in this year’s Olympic trials as her breakthrough accomplishment leading up to her gold medal in the 100-meter event at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Russell won the trials at Hayward Field in 12.25 seconds, beating out Harrison (12.39), Nia Ali (12.37), Alaysha Johnson (12.31), Grace Stark (12.31), and Tonea Marshall (12.38). The American crossed the finish line in 12.33 seconds in Paris, narrowly beating Cyrena Samba-Mayela of France by 0.01 seconds.
Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the defending champion, finished third with 12.36 seconds. The 24-year-old claims that the US Olympic trials are more difficult than the actual Olympics and that securing a spot there was more important to him than competing in Paris.
“I was way more stressed making the team in the trials than actually being on the line in the Olympic final. There’s no Olympics if you don’t get through the US trials. And the US trials is like the Olympics within itself,” Russell revealed the World Athletics.
Russell, who set a personal record of 12.25 seconds in her specialist set during the trials, claimed that the competitive aspect of the US trials contributed to some of her stress. She claimed that anyone can win on their day because all of her rivals are so gifted.
“That was the fastest-run women’s 100 hurdles. And the women’s 100m hurdles is the most competitive event in track and field. We’re all so close and so talented. Whoever has the cleanest race on the day, they’re probably going to win”.
If their domination in world championships is any indication, the US and Jamaica are regarded as sprinting powerhouses. “This year, I believe 12 ladies have run 12.30s. That has probably never been done in history. “It’s quite sick,” Russell continues. In fact, 12 women ran under 12.40 in 2024, including six in that incredible US final, which by some means sets a new record. The number was seven in 2023. It was six in 2022. No more than two ladies had ever broken 12.40 in a single year before that.
He urged patience, saying Kenya is still a long way from becoming a sprinting superpower.
