Harrison seeks repeat at Rod McCravy Memorial

Last year's U.S. runner-up at 60-meter hurdles, world-record holder in 100 hurdles begins indoor season against field of talented collegiate challengers

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Before she begins her pursuit of an IAAF World Championship gold medal in London and possible run at another world record in the 100-meter hurdles this summer, former Kentucky star Keni Harrison will take aim at an indoor title in March in the 60-meter hurdles.

Harrison, representing adidas, opens her indoor season Saturday in the 60 hurdles at the Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational at Nutter Field House in Lexington. She won last year’s event in 7.83 seconds.

Harrison, the 2015 NCAA Indoor winner in the 60 hurdles, ran a personal-best 7.77 to place second in last year’s U.S. Indoor Championships by one-hundredth behind Brianna Rollins.

Although a matchup with Kentucky sophomore and reigning NCAA outdoor 100 hurdles champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn – ranked third nationally among collegiate athletes at 8.10  – won’t materialize for Harrison, also entered in the prelims are Illinois sophomore Pedrya Seymour and Purdue senior Devynne Charlton, who rank fourth and fifth nationally this season.

Another interesting showdown could involve Harrison and USC redshirt sophomore Dior Hall, who hasn’t competed since July 31, 2015, after suffering a torn left ACL in December 2015 and having surgery 54 weeks ago. Hall ran a personal-best 8.01 at the 2015 NCAA Indoor meet, when she placed eighth behind Harrison in the final.