The 2020 Tokyo Olympics hurdler and silver medalist Kendra "Keni" Harrison is ranked world No. 4 as of May 2024, according to the World Athletics. An adopted kid, she went to Clayton High School and won the 2011 Gatorade North Carolina Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year, along with the Class 4A state championship and the New Balance Nationals in 100m hurdles.
Keni Harrison won a 2018 World Indoor Championship gold in Birmingham at the 60-meter hurdle, clocking 7.70 seconds. She specializes in the 100- and 60-meter hurdles.
Harrison ran a time of 12.46 to win the silver in the 2019 Doha and the bronze in the 2023 Budapest World Championships. She also won gold in the 2018 Birmingham 60m hurdles with a time of 7.70, which was a championship and continental record, as well as her personal best.
What is Keni Harrison’s world record?
At the London Muller Anniversary Games in July 2016, she achieved a time of 12.20 seconds, breaking the previous world record of 12.21 seconds held by Bulgarian athlete Yordanka Donkova. This is also her personal best.
As she sped past the hurdles and crossed the finish line, Harrison ran a flawless race, was way ahead of her competitors, and clocked 12.58.
Rollins' uncorrected time was recorded by the trackside clock because Harrison sank so low at the line she ran beneath the beam. Harrison had won her heat with a time of 12.40 just ninety minutes before, so for a brief while there was a strange sensation of disappointment.
After that, the numbers were reset to 12.20 and the initials "WR" began to flash next to them. Harrison collapsed to the ground, sobbing and placing her hands on her face in shock. She said she was happy to win with 12 and a half seconds, but now she's a world record holder, which meant much more than just winning. She said, “That 12.40 got my confidence back. I knew I had it in me. I ran as hard as I could today.”
Her world championship honors are as follows:
| Place | Discipline | Mark | Venue | Date |
| 2. | 100 Metres Hurdles | 12.46 | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha (QAT) | 06 OCT 2019 |
| 3. | 100 Metres Hurdles | 12.46 | Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ, Budapest (HUN) | 24 AUG 2023 |
| 4. | 100 Metres Hurdles | 12.74 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) | 12 AUG 2017 |
Her world indoor championship honors are as follows:
| Place | Discipline | Mark | Venue | Date |
| 1. | 60 Metres Hurdles | 7.70 | Arena Birmingham, Birmingham (GBR) (i) | 03 MAR 2018 |
| 8. | 60 Metres Hurdles | 8.87 | Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR (USA) (i) | 18 MAR 2016 |
Keni Harrison’s All-time Personal Top-10
| Event | Cnt. | Result | Wind | Event | Date | Place | Cat | Type Nr. | Score |
| London Müller Anniversary Games, Olympic Stadium, London | GBR | 12.20 | +0.3 | 100mH | 22 JUL 2016 | 1. | GL | F | 1261 |
| Eugene Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR | USA | 12.24 | +0.7 | 100mH | 28 MAY 2016 | 1. | GL | F | 1255 |
| World Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023 | HUN | 12.24 | +0.1 | 100mH | 22 AUG 2023 | 1. | OW | H3 | 1255 |
| World Athletics Championships, Oregon 2022 | USA | 12.27 | +0.9 | 100mH | 24 JUL 2022 | 2. | OW | SF1 | 1251 |
| Gyulai István Memorial - Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix | HUN | 12.28 | +0.1 | 100mH | 04 JUL 2017 | 1. | C | F1 | 1249 |
| Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR | USA | 12.34 | -1.4 | 100mH | 25 JUN 2022 | 1. | B | F | 1249 |
| Herculis Meeting International d’Athlétisme EBS, Stade Louis II, Monaco | MON | 12.31 | +0.6 | 100mH | 21 JUL 2023 | 2. | GW | F | 1245 |
| World Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023 | HUN | 12.33 | +0.5 | 100mH | 23 AUG 2023 | 1. | OW | SF1 | 1242 |
| USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix, Drake Stadium, Los Angeles, CA | USA | 12.35 | -0.2 | 100mH | 27 MAY 2023 | 2. | A | F | 1240 |
| Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Stadion Śląski, Chorzów | POL | 12.35 | +0.9 | 100mH | 16 JUL 2023 | 2. | GW | F | 1239 |
FAQ's On Keni Harrison World Record
A. Keni Harrison's world record is 12.20 seconds in the 100m hurdles, achieved at the 2016 London Müller Anniversary Games.
A. Keni Harrison won gold in the 60m hurdles, setting a championship record with a time of 7.70 seconds.
A. Keni Harrison won silver in 2019 (Doha) and bronze in 2023 (Budapest) in the 100m hurdles.
A. Keni Harrison's personal best of 12.20 seconds in the 100m hurdles was set at the 2016 London Anniversary Games.
A. Yes, Keni Harrison secured a silver medal in the 100m hurdles event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
