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SAINT-DENIS, France — A trio of Americans lined up alongside each other for Saturday night’s women’s 100-meter hurdles final, each first-time Olympians, each harboring credible hopes of leaving with a medal around her neck.
In Lane 5 was Masai Russell, the 24-year-old NCAA record holder and social media influencer with nearly 1 million followers across her platforms. To Russell’s right was Alaysha Johnson, the largely unsponsored 28-year-old who qualified for Paris earlier this summer while wearing a borrowed pair of spikes. To Russell’s left was Grace Stark, the 23-year-old who has recovered from a severe leg injury that doctors feared would end her career.
Two Americans contended for the win. Only Russell came away with the gold.
In a photo finish that left a handful of hurdlers staring at the scoreboard waiting to see who won, Russell came away with the win in 12.33 seconds. France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela was second, just one-hundredth of a second behind Russell. Reigning Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico took bronze in 12.36 seconds.
The eight women who made Saturday’s 100 hurdles final combined to form one of the fastest fields ever assembled. World record holder and 2022 world champion Tobi Amusan of Nigeria failed to advance to the final despite clocking a semifinal time of 12.55 seconds. That time would have medaled at four of the past five Olympics.
Amusan wasn’t the only potential medalist who didn’t make it to Sunday’s final either. Nia Ali, who was part of an American 100 hurdles medal sweep in Rio, clocked a time of 12.37 seconds in the final at U.S. Olympic Trials yet finished fourth. Former world record holder Keni Harrison ran a 12.39 and settled for sixth.
That meant it was time for the next generation of American 100 hurdlers to shine on an Olympic stage. On Saturday night, Russell took advantage of that opportunity.
Source Agencies
