Former UK stars McLaughlin-Levrone, Russell sweep women’s hurdles at U.S. Olympic Trials

Former University of Kentucky stars dominated the women’s hurdles events Sunday night at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon.

For 400-meter hurdles world-record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, that much was expected as she set yet another new mark.

For Masai Russell, who took the gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles, it was a breakthrough victory.

Both are now headed to the Paris Olympics.

McLaughlin-Levrone closed the U.S. Olympic Trials with a 400-meter hurdles world record of 50.65 seconds. She was a hundredth of a second short of finishing two full seconds ahead of second-place finisher Anna Cockrell (52.64).

It was the fifth time in her career McLaughlin-Levrone has set the event world record and the second time she has won Olympic Trials gold. Her most recent world record of 50.68 seconds had come at the same track at the world championships two years ago.

“I wasn’t expecting that time,” McLaughlin-Levrone said afterward, according to a report by FloTrack. “I think it’s super encouraging, to see that without expecting it. There’s more there, there’s more to fix. It’s a confidence-booster.”

The New Brunswick, New Jersey, native won the 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene in 2021 with a then-world record of 51.90. McLaughlin-Levrone will join Team USA for her third Olympics after participating in the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, including winning gold in the 4x400-meter relay and 400-meter hurdles in Tokyo.

“I would love to dip under 50 at some point,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “I don’t know if it’s this year or next year, or whatever. Just always chipping away, seeing what’s possible. There are so many different ways to run it. and I feel like every time I’m on the track, I’m figuring out, ‘OK, what’s the best way?’”

McLaughlin-Levrone’s record-breaking time Sunday might have surprised her but not her competitors.

“She sets the world record and we’re not even shocked,” said Dalilah Muhammad, the 2016 Olympic champion who held the world record in the event before McLaughlin-Levrone. Muhammad finished sixth (54.27) Sunday.

Cockrell and third-place finisher Jasmine Jones (52.77) ran times that would have won every Olympic finals prior to Tokyo and yet it was like they were in a different race than McLaughlin-Levrone.

“Every single time she gets on the track people are expecting her to break a record,” men’s 400 hurdles gold medalist Rai Benjamin said of McLaughlin-Levrone. “Which is insane every single time to get on the track. And I think we kind of got lulled into this, this state of just fast times and everybody expects it every time because it’s like a dopamine spike.”

Russell joins Team USA for the first time in her career. The Potomac, Maryland, native ran the 100 hurdles a world-leading 12.25 seconds. The time was a third straight personal best for Russell from the trials, and it also surpassed Gail Devers’ 24-year-old U.S. Olympic Trials record of 12.33 set in 2000.

“I have so many emotions because this has been the hardest season of my life,” Russell said in a TV interview afterward. “People were doubting me. Talking about ever since I signed with Nike I’ve been trash. Just saying all these things about me. But I just stayed true to myself, my work and my craft and this is all God.”

Another former Kentucky standout, Keni Harrison, missed out on the Olympics after finishing sixth in the 100 hurdles. Harrison won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Russell was pleased to prevail over a tough, fast field.

“That gives me the most confidence, I’m not gonna lie,” Russell told The Register-Guard of Eugene, Oregon. “It was just confirmation that I’m exactly where I need to be. I was telling people throughout this whole weekend and throughout my entire career: I never felt like I deserved what I had. I never told myself that; I just put the work in and was like, ‘Whatever happens, happens.’ But I told myself (Sunday) I deserve to win. I deserve to be here. I deserve to be an Olympian.”

Winners of Sunday’s other U.S. Olympic Trials finals also included Bryce Hoppel (men’s 800 meters), Nikki Hiltz (women’s 1,500 meters), Benjamin (men’s 400-meter hurdles), Grant Fisher (men’s 5,000 meters), Maggie Malone-Hardin (women’s javelin), Daniel Haugh (men’s hammer throw), Bridget Williams (women’s pole vault), Salif Mane (men’s triple jump) and Shelby McEwen (men’s high jump).

Others reaching the Paris Olympic trials with ties to UK track and field are alumni Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (100 hurdles, gold for Puerto Rico in Tokyo), Andrew Evans (men’s discus), Alexis Holmes (400 meters) and Daniel Roberts (110 hurdles), and volunteer coach Devynne Charlton (100 hurdles, Bahamas).

Former Kentucky star headed to his second Olympics after winning discus at U.S. trials

‘It means the world.’ Former Kentucky track star Daniel Roberts reaches his 2nd Olympics.

Kentucky grad wins U.S. high jump at Olympic Trials but you might not see her in Paris.

‘I wanted to run the best race of my life.’ Former UK athlete qualifies for Olympics.