The 5-foot-3 senior won the 300-meter intermediate hurdles with a state-record time of 40.16 seconds at the Independent School League Championships this past season, leading the Bulldogs to the title as a team. Russell also won the 100-meter high hurdles in 13.84. Her winning time in the 300 hurdles ranked as the nation’s No. 1 performance among prep competitors in 2018 at the time of her selection, and No. 4 in U.S. high school history. Russell capped her prep career by taking third in the 400-meter hurdles at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships.
Russell has maintained a B average in the classroom. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in track and field on scholarship at the University of Tennessee this fall.
Russell has volunteered locally feeding the homeless and assisting at a retirement home.
