Olympic 100m hurdles gold medalist Masai Russell issues confident message after running non-regular event at Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational

Masai Russell opened her 2025 indoor season at the Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational on Saturday with an impressive run in the 4x400m relay. The American sprinter is only in her second professional year and won her maiden Olympic gold medal last year.

Russell was part of the women's 4x400m relay team of Kentucky Elite Athletics alongside Christal Mosley, Anavia Battle, and Devynne Charlton. The quartet clocked an impressive 3:37.49 for second place behind Kentucky, who opened their season in 3:34.52.

The 100m hurdles Olympic champion ran the second leg for the Elite team, and clocked an impressive 52.84. The 24-year-old said she competed in the relay to test her speed endurance and will now gear up for the 60m hurdles.

"Lil speed endurance training.....now time to get ready for 60mH," she wrote.

Masai Russell's story - Source: via @masai_russell on Instagram

Russell opened her 2024 season at the same event but competed in the 60m flat and hurdle races. She 8.09s in her season opener over the 60m hurdles and went on to win the national indoor title in the event. However, she fell short of a podium finish at the World Championships in Glasgow by 0.02 seconds.

The 24-year-old clocked 7.81s and finished fourth after not being able to lean in towards the finish line. However, she didn't repeat the error in the 100m hurdles at the 2024 Paris Olympics and won the gold by just 0.01s. In an interview with World Athletics, Masai Russell mentioned:

“It was pretty devastating. I missed out on a medal by just being leaned out but I wasn’t going to make the same mistake in the outdoor season."

Russell is slated to race over 60m hurdles at the Milrose Games for the first time in her professional career and will take on world record holder Devynne Charlton and Jamaican 100m hurdles champion Ackera Nugent.

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"Millrose Games have a very special place in my heart" - Masai Russell on racing at the annual indoor meet

Buffalo Bills v Baltimore Ravens - Masai Russell in attendance (Source: Getty)

Speaking during an appearance on The Citius Mag Podcast, Masai Russell revealed that the annual Milrose Games held a special place in his heart. The Olympic champion skipped the event last year in her rookie season but has competed in it for four straight years during her high school career.

“Last year I wasn't able to be a part of [Millrose Games] because it was my first year on the professional circuit. It was the week before USAs, so I didn't want to do too much traveling while I was in the process of getting my feet wet. But the Millrose Games have a very special place in my heart because I ran there all four years when I was in high school as a Bullis athlete," she said.

While Russel is among the top five fastest athletes in the history of 100m hurdles, she is comparatively slower in the 60m hurdles. The 24-year-old holds a lifetime best of 7.75s in the event and would be eager to improve it when she takes the field on February 8.