Kenyan athlete Rukia Nusra racing at the University of Kentucky in the US.
Kenya’s Rukia Nusra Omulisia broke the national record once again on Thursday night in the women’s 100m hurdles at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field First Rounds (Regionals), taking place at the UK Track and Field Complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Rukia, a Public Health student at the University of Kentucky, took full advantage of the home ground in the semi-finals, winning her heat in 12.96—clocking a sub-13-second time—and comfortably qualified for today’s finals.
And the runner is no stranger to records. In February, she stunned the athletics world by shattering the Kenyan national record in the women’s 100m hurdles not once, but twice on the same day, underlining her rapid rise in the sprint hurdles discipline.
Kenyan athlete Rukia Nusra during her training sessions at the University of Kentucky in the US.
Competing for the University of Kentucky, 24-year-old Rukia achieved a historic career breakthrough in the 100m hurdles. She clocked 13.18 seconds in the preliminary rounds before lowering her time to 13.13 seconds in the final to finish third.
Rukia set another record in the 60 metres, lowering her own indoor 60 metres record to 8.31 seconds at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA, in early February. This broke the national record of 8.38 seconds she had set at the Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Bowen Fieldhouse, Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA.
Remarkably, she broke her own record twice in one meet, first clocking 8.32 seconds in the first round, then lowering it to 8.31 seconds in the semi-finals. However, she did not qualify for the finals, finishing sixth in her heat.
She initially joined the University of Akron in 2024, before transferring to the University of Kentucky last year to study Public Health. The University of Kentucky is renowned for producing some of the world’s best sprinters.
Rukia told Nation Sports that her consistent training and the good facilities have helped her achieve great things. She lowered her personal best, which is also a national record.
“My outdoor season has started well. I opened with a national record, which gave me a lot of confidence and showed that all my hard work is paying off. The competition here is really tough, and I think that’s why I’ve performed so well,” she said.
Kenyan athlete Rukia Nusra during her training sessions at the University of Kentucky in the US.
She said that, in such a technical race, one has to be perfect because even small mistakes can be costly. Her goal is to finish in the top three, having missed last year’s nationals.
“Last year, competing at the regionals gave me a lot of experience, which really motivated me. This year, I definitely believe I have a strong chance of reaching the nationals. It’s competitive, but I’m confident in my preparation and what I’m capable of,” said Rukia, who trains under her coach, Lonnie Greene.
The move was important for her career and academic development due to the improved training facilities offered by US universities.
Some of the top athletes who have trained at the University of Kentucky include 100m hurdles Olympic champion Masai Russell, 400m world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and 110m hurdles Olympic silver medallist Daniel Roberts, to name a few.
“The facilities here are ideal for sprinters, which is why I’m gradually improving. I also have to balance my career with my studies so that, by the end of the four years, I’ll have achieved more than just titles,” she told Nation Sports.
Those who have qualified for the NCAA National Championships in the 10,000 metres include Pamela Kosgei (University of New Mexico), Betty Kipkore and Mercyline Kirwa (both Iowa State University), Diana Cherotich (Oregon University), Domtilla Cheruto (Oklahoma University), Brighter Jepchumba (Eastern Kentucky University) and Mercy Jebitok (Akron University).
In the men’s 10,000 m race, the competitors are Dennis Kipngetich (Oklahoma State University), Evans Kurui (Washington State University), Evans Kiplagat (University of New Mexico) and Kelvin Cheruiyot (Florida State University).
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