National 300-meter hurdles leader, Tennessee commit looks to continue momentum at home following successful season opener in California

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Masai Russell enjoyed one of the most significant weeks of her high school career, complete with a historic performance along with her Bullis School MD teammates in their outdoor opener at the 51st Arcadia Invitational, as well as a glimpse into her future with her commitment Wednesday to attend the University of Tennessee.

Russell will have an opportunity to make more memories Saturday at the annual Bullis Bulldog Invitational, as she is scheduled to run the 200 meters and potentially a pair of relays at the first home meet for one of the nation’s elite prep programs in Potomac, Md.

In addition to running a national-leading 41.28 seconds in the 300 hurdles April 7, Russell also contributed to Bullis victories in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays. Sophomore teammate Leah Phillips ran a personal-best 42.78 in the 300 hurdles to place fourth.

“I think it’s really a good foundation for my 400 hurdles and I think it’s a really good season opener for both of us because it shows the hard work has been paying off. We’ve really been dying in practice and this is just the beginning because we still have a whole outdoor season to go,” said Russell, who ran 42.15 in the 300 hurdles last year.

“We train together. We’re literally with each other most of the time and all the time we’re dying together (in workouts). It’s great to experience this atmosphere with her and to show all of our hard work. She’s only a 10th grader and she’s running so well. She was the youngest one in the field, but she’s one of the youngest best runners in the country I know.”

Russell and Phillips contributed to all three of Bullis’ relay victories, with the Bulldogs clocking 45.72 in the 4x100, 1:36.18 in the 4x200 and 3:44.58 in the 4x400.

“It was a great start. Our coach said we’re not using this as a tuneup meet, we’re going full force in the first meet out,” Russell said. “We just like to show what we can do by coming out on the West Coast and making a statement. They probably hear about us, but they don’t really get to see us in person, so it was great to bring that show out to the crowd.”

Bullis joined Long Beach Poly CA in 2004 and Roosevelt MD in 2009 as the only girls teams in meet history to sweep all three relays in the same year.

“Those programs are legendary and so it’s a fun thing to talk about, but since I’m such a track nerd, I don’t even consider ourselves in their league. It’s like having a conversation about who is better, the Bulls of the ‘90s or (present-day) Golden State. Well, it’s always going to be the Bulls of the ‘90s or the Lakers of the ‘80s for me,” Bullis coach Joe Lee said. “They get the nod in my eyes, but as far as keeping that tradition going, it’s fun because Maryland traditionally is not a sprint powerhouse in terms of year in and year out. Obviously we have Roosevelt and some other good teams, but pretty much, it’s been Florida, Georgia, Texas and California.

“For us to be in that conversation is important for us because East Coast running is very different. Our training has been difficult because of the weather and we’ve been getting our butts kicked. To jump into Arcadia, I told them, ‘Do not take this as a tuneup meet, because it is not.’”

Russell made additional history by becoming the first athlete, female or male, since 2012 to win four gold medals in a single year at the Arcadia Invitational.

“It’s really a great feeling to come to the West Coast and do what we do best and it was good to put on a show for the West Coast fans. It’s great to see our hard work is really paying off and we can’t wait to see where we are for the rest of the season,” Russell said. “It was a long week and a lot of travel, but it was good to come out with a win and finish strong (in the 4x400). And to make that history we didn’t even know about.”

Former Brophy Prep AZ star and University of Oregon standout Devon Allen secured five gold medals six years ago, capturing the 200 (21.10), 110 hurdles (13.52), 300 hurdles (36.39) and contributing to relay victories in the 4x100 (41.15) and 4x110 shuttle hurdles (1:02.97).

The last female athlete to win at least four golds in one year at Arcadia was former Long Beach Poly and USC talent Shana Woods in 2006. Woods swept the 100 hurdles (14.06) and 300 hurdles (41.90), along with anchoring relay victories in the 4x200 (1:36.80) and 4x400 (3:40.47).

“It’s humbling because people who know the sport know some of the legendary races and battles that have happened (at Arcadia) and to just be able to come and compete here, we’re thrilled,” Lee said. “It’s fun, it’s history, I mean 51 years to do anything, especially at a high level, is pretty impressive. We’re excited to be part of a great meet that’s been around long before we got here.”

Lauryn Harris, Sierra Leonard and Ashley Seymour, who joined Phillips and Russell in contributing to Bullis’ relay trifecta at Arcadia, are also scheduled to compete Saturday for the Bulldogs, who set the 4x100 meet record of 45.90 last year and the 4x400 standard of 3:48.89 in 2016.

“I feel like we did good (at Arcadia), but we can definitely do better,” Russell said. “We just have so much more work to do with our stick passes on the 4x100, 4x400 and 4x200, but we’ll get it figured out.”