After opening her outdoor season Saturday at the Texas Relays with a win in the 100-meter hurdles on at Mike A. Myers Stadium, Masai Russell hustled back to the start line and began doing the rounds.
Meeting fans one by one, the reigning Olympic champion and American record-holder in the high hurdles walked along the main grandstand, signing autographs and taking selfies for about 15 minutes. Her go-to move was a toothy smile and a peace sign.
Advertisement
“I understand these people look up to me,” said Russell, 25, who won an Olympic title in the 100-meter hurdles in 2024 in Paris. “They see me on YouTube, they see me online and they see me on TV. I feel like it’s important to connect with the people who support you.”
Olympic gold medalist Masai Russell poses for a photo after winning the invitational section of the 100-meter hurdles on Saturday afternoon during the 98th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, April 4, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
After an ankle injury last May limited her 2025 season for about two months — which came almost immediately after she set an American record in the 100-meter hurdles in 12.17 seconds — Russell returned to win a U.S. Championship and placed fourth at the World Championships in Tokyo. It was a good season.
Texas’ Bayleigh Minor celebrates a win in the Sanya Richards Ross Invitational 1600-meter relay on Saturday afternoon during the 98th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, April 4, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
MORE: How an NCAA championship eluded Texas basketball’s Vic Schaefer, Madison Booker | Golden
Advertisement
But the Maryland native wants to be the best in the world, so a re-set is always in store for a new season. Her start to 2026 began with a dominant win in 12.72 seconds Saturday — nearly four-tenths faster than second-place Rayniah Jones.
Russell says it’s only up from here.
“It was just knocking the dust off, seeing where I was at,” she said. “I know I’m in a much better place than 12.7, but there was a lot going on on the track. I kept flipping the hurdles.”
Olympic gold medalist Masai Russell, running for Nike, wins the invitational section of the 100-meter hurdles on Saturday afternoon during the 98th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, April 4, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
Harder for an Olympic champion, perhaps, is overcoming past success. Anywhere Russell competes, she remains one of the faces of American track and field. But for what it’s worth, she welcomes that pressure. The more eyes on her, she says, the better. It means people care.
Advertisement
“The Olympics are gone, it’s done,” she said. “It’s time to recreate new success.”
Not long after Russell’s performance, another Olympic champion took the stage.
In the women’s 100 meters, Austin native Gabby Thomas won her fourth title at the distance since 2022, clocking a time of 11.00 seconds. She also contributed to TBBTC’s time of 43.24 in the women’s invitational 400-meter relay.
Texas’ Kendrick Smallwood wins the 100-meter hurdles on Saturday afternoon during the 98th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, April 4, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
Athletes put their stamp on final day of Relays
After a rain swept morning and persistent wind throughout, the last day of the Texas Relays was less about records and more about enduring the elements.
• Texas’ Kendrick Smallwood certainly knew how to take care of business, winning the men’s 110-meter hurdles in 13.16 seconds. In the triple jump, Texas’ Kelsey Daniel followed with a 52 foot, 10 inch jump, doubling his win count after a victory in the long jump Friday.
Advertisement
• A day after setting the top NCAA mark in the 100 meters, Texas freshman Abigail Wolfe struggled in the final, watching as Tarleton junior Victoria Cameron wowed with a wind-legal 11.01-second performance. Cameron is no secret to NCAA circles, but a performance like that on a suboptimal day gave her optimism for the future.
“It’s a little weird when you hit a lactic week and then you run a personal best,” Cameron said. “That’s a little weird. I was expecting 11.2, especially on a really cold day. But I can’t change the Lord’s plan at the end of the day.”
Texas’ Carleta Bernard takes off at the start of the 400-meter relay on Saturday afternoon during the 98th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, April 4, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
• In the discus, Texas State’s Daniel Strooh nabbed a victory by an inch, launching a winning mark of 187-4.
Advertisement
• Houston’s 4008 relay team, working off its fastest prelim time Friday, closed with a winning effort of 38.69 on Saturday, leveraging a speedy anchor from former NCAA 100-meter champion Louie Hinchliffe.
• The Longhorns’ foursome of Amelliah Birdow, Elise Cooper, Ramiah Elliott and Bayleigh Minor rounded out the meet with a win in the women’s 1,600-meter relay in 3:27:74.
A future Longhorn navigating unique 2026 path
It’s not every year you see a high schooler dominate an invitational field at the Texas Relays. But after Thomas scratched and a few other notable athletes didn’t start the women’s 200 meters, Humble Atascocita High School senior Mariah Maxwell won in a wind-assisted 22.25 seconds.
Advertisement
Texas coach Edrick Floréal made sure to sneak a hug with the future Longhorn afterward.
Her performance was no fluke. The 18-year-old, who’s running outside of the UIL season alongside her sister Mia with their club team, had already proven she could hang with any woman in the country. In March, she finished third in the U.S. Indoor Championships in the 60 meters. She was third in the 60 meters at the Millrose Games in February. More professional races are in store for 2026, including a visit to Florida in a few weeks.
“This season has been so crazy,” Maxwell said. “It’s definitely been a blessing, so it makes me excited for the future.”
