Masai Russell storms into history books as women’s 100m hurdles reaches new golden era

American sprint hurdler Masai Russell has cemented her place among the greatest women’s sprint hurdlers in history after producing a sensational run of performances that now ranks among the fastest ever recorded in the women’s 100 metres hurdles.
A recently circulated all-time rankings graphic highlights the remarkable dominance of Russell in the event over the past two seasons, with the American star occupying multiple spots on the prestigious list headed by Nigerian world record holder Tobi Amusan.
Amusan’s breathtaking world record of 12.12 seconds, set in 2022, still stands as the fastest performance in the history of the event. However, Russell has rapidly emerged as the closest challenger to that historic mark, clocking an astonishing 12.14 seconds in 2026 to move into second place on the all-time list.
The performance underlines the emergence of a fiercely competitive era in women’s sprint hurdling, with several athletes consistently threatening long-standing records that once appeared untouchable.
Russell’s growing dominance is further reflected by her multiple appearances in the all-time top performances, including times of 12.17, 12.19, 12.22 and several 12.25-second runs. Her consistency at elite level has sparked widespread discussions within global athletics circles about the possibility of Amusan’s world record eventually being broken.
The list also features some of the sport’s legendary names, including Bulgaria’s Yordanka Donkova, whose 12.21-second run from 1988 stood as a world record for decades before Amusan rewrote history in Oregon.
American hurdler Keni Harrison, a former world record holder herself, also remains prominently featured on the all-time rankings following her outstanding 12.20 performance in 2016.
The depth of talent in the women’s hurdles is further showcased by the inclusion of Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent, Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, America’s Grace Stark and Tonea Marshall, all of whom have delivered blistering times in recent seasons.
Observers