Harrison begins march toward another record year

Former NCAA 60-meter hurdles champion at Kentucky opens indoor season with No. 3 all-time U.S. effort and ninth-fastest in world to repeat at Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Keni Harrison already boasts the outdoor 100-meter hurdles world record.

Judging by her performance in her indoor season opener Saturday at Kentucky’s Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational, the 60-meter hurdles American and world records are now well within Harrison’s reach this year.

Harrison clocked a personal-best 7.75 seconds, No. 3 all-time in the United States and tied for the ninth-fastest performer in the world, to repeat as champion in her return to Nutter Field House in Lexington.

Harrison, representing adidas, took second at last year’s U.S. Indoor Championships in 7.77, one-hundredth behind Brianna Rollins. Harrison, the 2015 NCAA Indoor champion, now trails only Lolo Jones (7.72) and Gail Devers (7.74) among the fastest Americans and is eyeing the world record of 7.68 set in 2008 by Sweden’s Susanna Kallur.

Former Kentucky star Leah Nugent ran under 8 seconds for the first time in her career to take second in 7.96, which equaled the previous world lead set Jan. 14 by Oregon’s Sasha Wallace.

Illinois sophomore Pedrya Seymour became the second collegiate runner this year to eclipse the 8-second barrier by clocking 7.98 for third and Purdue senior Devynne Charlton improved on her season best to run 8.05 for fourth.

USC redshirt sophomore Dior Hall, racing for the first time in 17 months following surgery to repair a torn left ACL, placed seventh in 8.32, just behind freshman teammate Anna Cockrell in 8.27. Hall clocked 8.09 in the prelims to post the second-fastest qualifying time behind Harrison’s 7.85.