With Kentucky’s Masai Russell breaking the collegiate record in the 60-meter hurdles and Jordan Anthony breaking the UK freshman record in the 60-meter dash, the swift duo was awarded with Southeastern Conference Female Runner of the Week and SEC Male Freshman Athlete of the Week honors, respectively, the league office announced Tuesday.
On Friday at the Red Raider Open in Lubbock, Texas, Russell blazed the 60 hurdles with a scintillating time of 7.75 seconds, eclipsing the mark of 7.78 seconds set by Grace Stark of Florida at the 2022 NCAA Championships and Brianna Rollins of Clemson in 2013. Russell also moved past the Kentucky standard of 7.87 seconds owned by eventual Olympic medalist Keni Harrison, who posted that mark in winning the 2015 NCAA Championship.
Russell’s triumph was followed quickly – literally and figuratively – by Anthony, who scorched the surface of the 60m dash in 6.55 seconds. In the process, Anthony broke the UK freshman record for the second week in a row and moved within 0.01 of the overall school record held by Wildcat Olympian Tim Harden. Anthony is ranked No. 4 in the NCAA in the 60m.
Also on Tuesday, Russell was named co-NCAA Division I Women’s Athlete of the Week, presented by M-F Athletics, as announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Kentucky now owns five collegiate records as Russell joins a distinguished group that includes Abby Steiner (200m indoor and outdoor, 2022); Sydney McLaughlin (400m hurdles, 2018); and UK’s 2022 4×400 outdoor relay (Megan Moss, Steiner, Karimah Davis, Alexis Holmes).
Kentucky has won three SEC weekly honors in the first two weeks of awards for the indoor track season. Last week, Keaton Daniel was SEC Male Field Athlete of the Week for his school-record performance in the pole vault at UK’s Rod McCravy Memorial Meet. The Kentucky track and field team continues to excel, with these two athletes leading the way and setting records. The team will look to continue their success as they head into the rest of the season.
