feature-image
feature-image

A champion is defined not by their wins but by how they recover when they fall.” Those were Serena Williams’ words, and on Saturday afternoon at Drake Stadium, Masai Russell proved them true. The Paris Olympics 100m hurdles champion had recently suffered a rare setback, losing to Grace Stark at the Tom Jones Memorial, 12.59 to 12.65. For many, a stumble like that may break their spirit, especially when you are expected to win, being an Olympic Champion. But Masai wasn’t having any of that and when she lined up at 115 Drake Relays, she made sure to bury Tom Jones Ghost with what she does best, ie win. She stamped her authority at the in Des Moines.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

Lining up against a stiff headwind, facing a strong field, she exploded from the blocks like a woman on a mission. 12.74 seconds later, she was across the line — arms out, defiant, victorious. Bahamian star Denisha Cartwright, running for Minnesota State, tried to hang with Russell but finished a distant second at 12.93. Former UCF standout Rayniah Jones clocked 13.00 for third. And well she has something to say now!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Ajay Gandhar

318 Articles

Ajay Gandhar is an Olympics writer at EssentiallySports whose passion extends across the entire Olympic spectrum. From track and field to gymnastics and swimming, his enthusiasm for sports is boundless. He holds a special admiration for Usain Bolt, appreciating not just the Jamaican's record-breaking performances but the infectious joy he brought to sprinting. Mondo Duplantis captivates Ajay's imagination with his gravity-defying pole vault techniques that transform the event into an artistic display. He respects Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone for her composed excellence under pressure, while Sha'Carri Richardson's determined comeback story exemplifies the resilience he values in athletics. In swimming, Michael Phelps' unmatched competitive drive and Katie Ledecky's understated dominance continue to inspire his storytelling. Beyond crafting compelling Olympic narratives, Ajay maintains an active lifestyle on the badminton court and in the gym. His professional interests extend beyond sports journalism to academic research addressing real-world challenges through collaborations with organizations like the Asian Development Bank and UNICEF

Know more

ADVERTISEMENT