University of Kentucky track & field hurdler Masai Russell has been recognized as one of ten collegiate track & field athletes to be named to the Mid-Outdoor edition of The Bowerman Watchlist by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). This prestigious accolade highlights Russell’s exceptional performances during the indoor and outdoor seasons.
The Bowerman Watchlist and Russell’s Achievements
The Bowerman, an esteemed award in the collegiate track & field world, announced its latest 10-person watch list, which takes into account athletes’ performances during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Finalists for this year’s award will be announced in December.
This marks Russell’s fourth inclusion on The Bowerman watch list, having already appeared on the first two watch lists released this year. The graduate student from Potomac, Maryland, has been making waves in the world of collegiate track & field. During the Texas Relays, she set a collegiate record of 12.36 in the 100-meter hurdles, breaking the previous 12.39 record set by 2013 The Bowerman winner Brianna Rollins.
Russell’s impressive performances don’t stop there. She has also run 55.39 in the 400 hurdles (third on the seasonal list) and was part of Kentucky’s 42.81 4×100 relay team (second on the seasonal list). During the indoor season, Russell was the runner-up in the NCAA Indoor 60 hurdles, matching her personal best of 7.75, which had been a collegiate record in January.
Continuing the Legacy at the University of Kentucky
Masai Russell is the eighth female athlete from the University of Kentucky to make The Bowerman watch list since the award’s inception in 2009. She follows in the footsteps of Abby Steiner, who won the award last year. As Russell continues to make a name for herself in collegiate track & field, the University of Kentucky’s legacy of producing top-tier athletes endures.