Trio of Cats qualify for Women's 100mH Final on Saturday

Olympics: Athletics-Morning Session — Aug 9, 2024; Saint-Denis, FRANCE; Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) and Masai Russell (USA) react after the women's 100m hurdles semifinals during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Not one, not two, but three Wildcats will be competing in the Women’s 100M Hurdles Final on Saturday after qualifying in the semifinals early Friday morning.

Former Kentucky stars Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Masai Russell, along with volunteer assistant coach Devynne Charlton, all combined to earn three of the top eight qualifying times to advance in Paris — nearly half of the entire field. Camacho-Quinn, ranked No. 1 in the world and holds the Olympic Record in this event (12.26, Tokyo 2021), finished first in the third heat with a 12.35-second finish while Russell came in second with a 12.42.

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Masai Russell finishes STRONG to hold off the pack and win the last auto qualification into the 100m hurdles final.👏 #ParisOlympics

📺 USA Network & Peacock pic.twitter.com/VsfvHWlFM2
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024

As for Charlton, she finished second in the first heat with a 12.50.

Grace Stark leads wire-to-wire to beat Devynne Charlton and go through to the 100m hurdles final. 😲 #ParisOlympics

📺 USA Network & Peacock pic.twitter.com/JI1cFooKX3
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024

That’s good for second, fourth and seventh among qualifying times, respectively.

1. Alaysha Johnson – 12.34 seconds
2. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn – 12.35 seconds
3. Grace Stark – 12.39 seconds
4. Masai Russell – 12.42 seconds
5. Nadine Visser – 12.43 seconds
6. Ackera Nugent – 12.44 seconds
7. Devynne Charlton – 12.5 seconds
8. Cyrena Samba-Mayela – 12.52 seconds

The Women’s 100mH Final is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET on Saturday, a chance for all three Wildcats to medal at the podium. That could set up an all-time photo for UK Athletics — certainly an unbelievable recruiting tool for the track & field program moving forward.

#HurdleU will make up 37.5 % (!!) of the 100m hurdles #Olympics final!

2. Camacho-Quinn 🇵🇷 – 12.35 Q
4. Russell 🇺🇸 – 12.42 Q
7. Charlton 🇧🇸 (Volunteer Assistant) – 12.50 Q#UKTF x #OlympiansMadeHere | 📸 @APNews pic.twitter.com/kFzjMIUmcc
— UK Track & Field (@KentuckyTrack) August 9, 2024

You’ll be able to watch on NBC and Peacock. Clear your schedules, Big Blue Nation. It’s going to be a good one.