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Although a hurdler, the Olympic gold medalist will be taking part in the 100m at next year's inaugural Grand Slam Track against the likes of Gabby Thomas and Mellisa Jeferson.
American hurdles star Masai Russell has expressed her enthusiasm for branching out into the 100m flat race as part of Michael Johnson’s highly anticipated Grand Slam Track series next season.
The Olympic gold medalist in the 100m hurdles sees the event as a thrilling new opportunity to push her limits and showcase her versatility on the track.
Russell’s rise has been nothing short of extraordinary. After turning professional in 2023, the 24-year-old made an indelible mark on the 2024 season. Her crowning achievement came at the Paris Olympics, where she clinched gold in the 100m hurdles, solidifying her place among the sport's elite.
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12:00 - 08.12.2024
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Beyond her Olympic triumph, Russell embraced new challenges at the inaugural Athlos women's-only track meet, further cementing her reputation as a trailblazer in athletics.
Russell’s excitement for the 100m dash stems from her belief that her hurdles expertise provides a strong foundation for excelling in the flat race.
“For me, if you can run 12.2 with some hurdles in between—my coach always says those are ten start-and-stop accelerations—so I know I have what it takes to have 11 [seconds],” Russell shared on Citius Mag.
She acknowledged the technical differences between the two races, noting that the 100m requires a unique rhythm and approach.
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17:46 - 02.12.2024
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“It is a race that has its own technique that you have to learn. You’re not putting your head up after the first two, three steps. You are pushing for longer,” she explained.
Russell also highlighted her past performances, reflecting on the potential for improvement: “I ran four 11.5s three years ago when I was not in the shape I am now. The fact that I ran that—it wasn’t good, I was not strong, that is when I ran 12.7 in the hurdles. If you do the math, it would translate to something like 11.1, 11.0, or even 10.9. That is the goal, but we’re going to see.”
Russell is eager to test herself against a star-studded field. The 100m flat event will feature top sprinters like Sha’Carri Richardson’s teammate Melissa Jefferson, Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas, and British star Daryll Neita. Fellow hurdlers Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Cyrena Samba-Mayela will also be in the mix.
“The women in this event will make it competitive and get the best out of me,” Russell said.
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09:30 - 07.12.2024
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The Kentucky Invitational, part of the Grand Slam Track series, is already on Russell’s radar as she prepares to take on this new challenge.
“It’s going to be fun to see what I can do competitively to compete for a big purse, and I’m excited because they are saying Kentucky Invitational—I’m going to do it for real,” she affirmed.
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09:08 - 07.12.2024
'It changed my life forever' - How obliterating Elaine Thompson-Herah and Co in the 100m at the 2022 Jamaican trials shaped Shericka Jackson
Shericka Jackson became the national champion in the 100 meters of the Jamaican national trials in 2022, beating the likes of Elaine Thompson-Herah to win it, and it changed her life 'forever'.
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