Masai Russell in the 100m hurdles at the Texas Relays (© University of Kentucky)
In her first competition of the year at her specialist distance, USA’s Masai Russell smashed her PB and broke the collegiate 100m hurdles record when winning at the Texas Relays in Austin in 12.36.
The 22-year-old had enjoyed a strong indoor campaign earlier this year, reducing her 60m hurdles PB to 7.75 and finishing second at the NCAA Indoor Championships. She has continued that momentum outdoors.
After breezing through her heat in a wind-assisted 12.61 in Austin, she returned 24 hours later to win the final in a lifetime best of 12.36 (2.0m/s), taking 0.03 off the collegiate record and moving to eighth on the US all-time list.
Alia Armstrong was second in 12.57. NCAA indoor champion Ackera Nugent won her heat in a wind-assisted 12.95 but didn’t contest the final.
NCAA indoor 60m champion Terrence Jones of The Bahamas opened his outdoor campaign with a big PB over 200m. The 20-year-old won a close race in 20.05 with Liberia’s Emmanuel Matadi finishing second in 20.07. Matadi had earlier won the 100m in a wind-assisted 9.96 (2.9m/s).
Elsewhere on the track, Olympic bronze medallist Gabby Thomas won the women’s 200m in 22.46, while Morocco’s Oussama El Bouchayby made a big breakthrough to win the men’s 800m in 1:45.31.
Olympic champion Valarie Allman kick-started her 2023 season with a world-leading 67.90m victory in the discus. Her series also included a 65.13m effort.
German all-rounder Leo Neugebauer dominated the decathlon and was rewarded with a lifetime best and World Championships qualifying mark of 8478. His series included PBs in the 100m (10.75), shot put (16.66m), pole vault (5.10m) and 110m hurdles (14.33).
Other field event highlights included a Bahamian javelin record of 84.27m from world U20 bronze medallist Keyshawn Strachan and a 2.33m high jump victory by JuVaughn Harrison.
