Who is Masai Russell's coach? Everything we know about former Kentucky Wildcat hurdler's track mentor

By Zahid Rashid Dar

Modified Aug 10, 2024 18:57 GMT

Masai Russell won the women's 100m hurdles title in a photo finish at the Paris Olympics 2024. She beat defending Olympic champion J Camacho-Quinn and France's C Samba-Mayela in a thrilling contest, clocking 12.33s for her maiden Olympic medal.

Russel has been coached by Rolando Lonnie Greene since her time at the University of Kentucky. Greene was part of the Purdue track and field from 2016 to 2018 in the Southeastern Conference before being roped in by Kentucky Wildcats.

Greene has coached over 10 SEC Champions in her career. Three of his athletes were part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with one of them, Devyonne Charlton, reaching the finals as well. He has also coached athletes holding the American and collegiate records as well as a collegiate record holder relay team.

Masai Russell joined the University of Kentucky in the 2018 season, the same year Lonnie Greene switched to the Wildcats track and field team. Under Greene’s mentorship, she won multiple NCAA medals while also breaking the collegiate records in the 60m and 100m hurdles.

Russel is the fourth fastest 100m hurdler in history with a time of 12.25. Although she was a bit slower during the finals at the Paris Olympics 2024, it was enough for her to secure the gold medal, edging out France's C. Samba-Mayela by 0.01 seconds. Defending champion J. Qamacho-Quinn fell short by 0.03 seconds.

Masai Russell’s journey to Olympic gold in 2024

Athletics - Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 15 - Source: Getty

Masai Russell started her 2024 season with an indoor 60m hurdles race at the UK Rod McCravy Memorial in January. The former Kentucky Wildcat clocked 8.09s for the first. She ran the 60m flat during the meet as well, placing second in 7.36s.

Russell ran the 60m hurdles over the next days again, clocking times of 7.96 and 7.89 on the 13th and 14th of January respectively. She closed the season with a fourth-place finish at the World Indoor Championships, running a season’s best 7.81s.

Masai Russell opened her outdoor season with the 100m hurdles at the Tom Jones Memorial, clocking a wind-aided 12.62. She ran a blistering 12.25s in the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials to win the national title and qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024. The time made Russell the second fastest American over the distance, and fourth fastest in overall history.

The 24-year-old was placed in heat 3 of the women's 100m hurdles first round. She clocked 12.53s to advance to the semifinals, where she placed second behind Qamacho-Quinn in 12.42s. Russell was at her best in the finals of August 10, running 12.33s for the Olympic crown.