PERFECTION IS NON-NEGOTIABLE. Masai Russell knows this. There simply is no way to have an all-conquering season without pulling off a win in the big championship at the end of the season.
Some perhaps saw weak spots in the armor of the Olympic champion and World Record holder when she led the heats with a clocking of “only” 12.38. Not a worry, though Russell took it very seriously.
“When I broke the World Record, I said the job wasn’t done because I knew we still had last week and then this week to handle and tackle regardless of that World Record,” she said. “The WR is just something to say but it does not do anything for you in the heat of another race.”
Other than adorning her special entrance onto the track as the reigning queen of the event, the record earned her no advantage in the final, either.
Russell started in 7, with indoor WR co-holder Devynne Charlton in 6, and former WR holder Tobi Amusan mostly out of sight in 4. As expected, Charlton put the pressure on early with a lightning start. What was not expected was that she would keep pulling away for much of the race.
The Bahamian’s lead grew until hurdle 7, making a Russell victory look anything but certain. Also challenging were European champion Nadine Visser and Commonwealth silver medalist Megan Simmonds.
But the American somehow found the strength to generate a stunning late-race burst that brought her to the lead by hurdle 8.
Russell’s storming finish gave her a stride’s-length margin at the finish in 12.22 — a truly remarkable performance in the chilly conditions. Amusan also finished fast, squeaking past Visser at the final hurdle for 2nd in 12.34. The Dutch hurdler clocked 12.39 to edge Charlton’s 12.40 for the 3rd spot.
Said the winner, “Once I get to the line, I’m like, ‘I can breathe now.’ For me it is just barriers I have to get through, I’ve done it before and I’m going to do it many more times after this.
“Coming back here after hitting the hurdle in [the Worlds semis in] 2023 and now being the Ultimate champion for me it is a way to rewrite the story here. I left here very sad three years ago, it was my first World Championships and now to be a recordholder, Olympic champion, Diamond League record holder, with all of these records and accolades, and then to do it at the Ultimate Championships on the same track, it just shows all the work.
“When failure occurs, it’s not really a failure, it’s just a setback that sets you up to win. This is a season that no hurdler has ever had. So for me, when you doubt me or things don’t go well, I think you should be worried.”
UC WOMEN’S 100 HURDLES RESULTS
(September 11; wind +0.1)
1. Masai Russell (US) 12.22 (x, =9 A)
2. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.34
3. Nadine Visser (Neth) 12.39
4. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 12.40
5. Megan Simmonds (Jam) 12.42
6. Alaysha Johnson (US) 12.46
7. Pia Skrzyszowska (Pol) 12.52
8. Alia Armstrong (US) 12.77
Heats (September 11)
I(0.9)–1. Russell 12.38; 2. Visser 12.49; 3. Johnson 12.50; 4. Simmonds 12.54; 5. Rayniah Jones (US) 12.54; 6. Luca Kozák (Hun) 12.68; 7. Ackera Nugent (Jam) 12.81; 8. Laeticia Bapte (Fra) 12.96.
II(-0.2)–1. Charlton 12.45; 2. Amusan 12.49; 3. Skrzyszowska 12.62; 4. Armstrong 12.65; 5. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.72; 6. Marione Fourie (SA) 12.84; 7. Keni Harrison (US) 12.88; 8. Demisha Roswell (Jam) 13.04.
