Rukia Nusra during her training sessions at the University of Kentucky in the US.
Rukia Nusra Omulisia, a Kenyan student studying Public Health at the University of Kentucky on a scholarship, announced her arrival on the big stage with a sensational performance and national records at the Texas Relays in the United States.
On Saturday, Nusra stunned the athletics world by breaking the Kenyan record in the women's 100 metres hurdles twice, highlighting her rapid progress in the sport.
Competing for Kentucky, she first clocked 13.18 seconds in the preliminary round, then lowered the mark to 13.13 seconds in the final. This marked a historic breakthrough in her career. She finished third in the race.
Rukia Nusra during her training sessions at the University of Kentucky in the US.
Rukia has just broken another national record in the 60 metres. In early February, she lowered her own indoor 60 m record when she clocked 8.31 seconds at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA.
This improved upon the national record of 8.38 seconds that she had previously set at the Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Bowen Fieldhouse, Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Remarkably, she broke her own record twice in one meet, first clocking 8.32 seconds in the first round before lowering it to 8.31 seconds in the semi-finals. However, she didn’t qualify for the final, having finished sixth in her heat.
Rukia initially studied at the University of Akron in Ohio before transferring to the University of Kentucky, which is renowned for producing some of the best sprinters.
On Sunday, Rukia told Nation Sport that her season had started well, and she was glad that her training was paying off.
“My outdoor season has started really well. I started with a national record, which gave me a lot of confidence, and it showed that the work I have been putting in is paying off. I’m just building from there and focusing on getting better in each race,” said Rukia.
Her plan is to stay consistent, improve her race execution, especially the later hurdles, and keep performing well as she targets to peak at the right moment.
“Last year, I gained a lot of experience competing at the regionals, which really motivated me. This year, I definitely believe I have a strong chance to reach the nationals. It’s competitive, but I’m confident in my preparation and what I’m capable of,” Rukia said on the phone from the US.
Born and raised in Kenya, Rukia’s athletics journey began at a young age. Her natural speed and coordination led her to focus on sprinting, eventually specialising in the 100m hurdles.
She attended Mumias Central Primary School before joining Rang’ala Girls High School. After finishing her secondary education, she joined the Kenya Defence Forces in 2021 and was posted to the Moi Airbase in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
She then secured a scholarship at the University of Akron in 2024, before transferring to the University of Kentucky in 2025 to study Public Health.
Rukia Nusra during her training sessions at the University of Kentucky in the US.
This move was important for her career and academic development due to the superior facilities offered by universities in the US.
“The facilities are very good here, and ideal for sprinters, and that is why I have been improving gradually. I also have to balance between my career and academics so that by the end of the four years, I have something to take back home apart from titles,” she added.
Training in the highly competitive NCAA system has exposed her to world-class coaching, facilities, and competition, accelerating her growth and sharpening her technique in the hurdles.
In Kentucky, she has steadily risen through the collegiate ranks, competing against some of the best athletes in the world.
The structured training programmes, combined with regular high-level competitions, have played a crucial role in her record-breaking performances, including her latest feat in Austin, Texas.
Traditionally known for dominance in middle- and long-distance races, Kenya has rarely produced a world-class sprint hurdler apart from a few like the late Nicholas Koech, who bagged a world title at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in the 400m hurdles.
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