Bullis Alumnus Masai Russell Wins Olympic Gold in Women's 100m Hurdles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 10, 2024

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Masai Russell, Bullis class of 2018, became the Olympic champion in the Women’s 100-meter Hurdles on Saturday. One of three Americans in the final, Masai won with a time of 12.33 seconds, edging out France’s Cyréna Samba-Mayela, who took silver, by a mere hundredth of a second. Masai is the first American to win gold in the event since 2016. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico earned bronze with a time of 12.36 seconds. 

Russell was a standout athlete at Bullis, winning eight national titles and setting multiple national records in sprint relays. In 2018, she was named the Gatorade Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year for the state of Maryland.

Russell is one of two U.S. Olympians from Bullis to compete in the Paris Games. On Friday, Quincy Wilson, Bullis class of 2026, became the youngest male athlete in history to compete for Team USA in the Olympics. In an interview shortly before leaving for Paris, Masai credited Bullis Track and Field head coach Joe Lee and hurdles coach Derrick Johnson with setting her on the course that ultimately brought her to the Olympics.

“I think it's just the coaching,” Russell said. “The coaches at Bullis had a vision for us. They had a plan for us. The standard was always there. Even if we didn't attain what we wanted to reach that year, we always were able to reevaluate and continue to push for more. So I think it was just a vision that Coach Lee and his staff have kept throughout the years, because they only continue to get better and that just comes with being relentless.”

After graduating from Bullis in 2018, Russell continued her track and field career at the University of Kentucky, where she was a runner-up in the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles in 2023. At the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, Russell made Team USA in dramatic fashion, breaking the meet record in the 100-meter hurdles with a 2024 world’s best time of 12.25 seconds.

Head of School Christian Sullivan, who was among the hundreds of Bullis supporters that cheered Russell on in her semifinal heat at a watch party on campus Friday morning, expressed enormous pride in Bullis’ athletes representing the U.S.

“What do you say in a moment like this?” Sullivan said after Russell secured gold. “It’s just incredible. I am so often in awe of the accomplishments Bullis students amass. Masai graduated before I began my tenure, but in talking to her former coaches and teachers, I am neither surprised by her achievement nor by the poise with which she performed on the world’s biggest stage in athletics. From everything I hear from those in the Bullis community who know Masai well, she is tenacious, goal-oriented, and grateful for the opportunities she’s earned. Our community has been beside Masai and Quincy throughout the summer. We are immensely proud of them and can’t wait to welcome them home to Bullis!”

Summary: Masai Russell, Bullis class of 2018, won gold in the Women’s 100-Meter Hurdles at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. She is the first American woman to be crowned Olympic champion in the event since 2016.

About Bullis: Bullis is a K-12 independent school that prepares students to be impactful global citizens. Students develop passions and build real-world skills as they explore myriad opportunities in academics, arts, athletics, and service. The spirit of joyfulness is evident throughout the Bullis campus as students, faculty, and families connect with each other and build meaningful relationships. Students learn in an environment that offers a demanding curriculum and supportive teachers who champion student growth, accomplishment, and well-being.