Kenyan Student Rukia Nusra Breaks 100m and 60m Hurdles Records in the US

Kenyan hurdler Rukia Nusra Omulisia set new national records in both the 100 metres and 60 metres hurdles this season while competing for the University of Kentucky.

At the Texas Relays in Austin, Omulisia first ran 13.18 seconds in the women’s 100 metres hurdles preliminary round, breaking the national record, and then improved it to 13.13 seconds in the final, finishing third. Earlier, at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, she twice lowered her own national record in the indoor 60 metres hurdles, posting 8.32 seconds in the opening round and 8.31 seconds in the semi-finals.

Born in Kenya, Omulisia attended Mumias Central Primary School and Rang’ala Girls High School. She joined the Kenya Defence Forces in 2021 and was posted to Moi Airbase in Nairobi. Her athletics career advanced in 2024 when she earned a scholarship to the University of Akron in Ohio, before transferring to Kentucky in 2025 to access improved training facilities and coaching.

Following her record-breaking performance in Texas, Omulisia said she was pleased with her progress. She highlighted the importance of refining her technique over the later hurdles and maintaining consistency as she aims to qualify for the NCAA nationals.

Kenya has a strong tradition in middle- and long-distance running, but sprint hurdling remains largely unexplored. Apart from a few isolated achievements, such as Nicholas Koech’s 2015 world title in the 400m hurdles, few Kenyan athletes have reached international standards in sprint hurdles. Omulisia’s results mark a significant development for the discipline in the country.

Her training within the NCAA system has provided exposure to elite competition and structured programmes that enhance both technique and mental resilience. Balancing academics with athletics, she emphasises the importance of completing her degree alongside her sporting ambitions.