Gators hurdler Grace Stark punches ticket to Paris Olympics

Former Florida Gators track and field star Grace Stark smashed her personal best with a 12.31-second finish in the 100-meter hurdle event Sunday at the US Olympic Trials, punching her ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Masai Russell set a Trials record in first place with 12.25 seconds, and Alaysha Johnson beat out Stark for second by seven one-thousandths of a second. All three will represent the United States at the upcoming Olympic Games.

In the first round, Stark placed second in her heat and fifth overall with a 12.52-second finish. She set a temporary personal best with a 12.45-second run in the semifinals. Of course, she crushed that record by .14 seconds in the finals.

Former Gator Brandee Johnson also participated in the event, finishing 20th in the semifinal.

Grace Stark as a Florida Gator

Stark is one of the best hurdlers Florida has ever seen. She holds the program record for outdoor 100-meter hurdles (12.47 seconds at 2024 NCAA Championships), indoor 60-meter hurdles (7.78 seconds at 2022 NCAA Championships) and the indoor 60-meter sprint (7.10 at 2022 NCAA Championships).

The Lakeland High graduate earned All-American honors in every season with Florida.

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