Freshman Kentucky hurdler Vanice Kerubo Nyagisera delivered a standout performance in the Texas Relays at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas. 

Kerubo Nyagisera opted to celebrate her 25th birthday by helping Kentucky to a first-place finish in the women’s 4×800 relay. 

Alongside Lyric Olson, Doricah Minsari Isoe and Janet Jepkemboi Amimo, the Wildcats posted a time of 8:24.18.

All of the aforementioned athletes have made significant impacts on Kentucky’s track and field program. However, Kerubo Nyagisera has made an immediate impact in her freshman season, already setting top marks and ranking among the NCAA leaders in the 400-meter hurdles. 

Prior to joining Kentucky, she specialized in the event internationally and won a gold medal at the 2019 African Games, emphasizing the elite experience that she has brought to the Wildcats.

Day one of the meet got off to a strong start in the 400-meter hurdles, where Kerubo Nyagisera delivered a strong second-place performance with a time of 56.73 in the preliminaries. 

Teammate Emmi Scales followed in 11th place with a time of 58.17.

On the second day of the meet, Scales led the women’s 100-meter hurdles preliminaries with a time of 12.75, setting a new NCAA best for 2026, as well as a personal best. Scales opened up the following day with another victory in the 100-meter hurdles, clocking 12.82 seconds.

Kerubo Nyagisera closed out day three’s competition in the women’s 400-meter hurdles final, taking second with a time of 55.45. 

The performance marked the second time that weekend Kerubo Nyagisera improved her standing on Kentucky’s all-time list, moving into fifth place. The first event that she improved on were the 400-meter hurdles on the second day of the meet.. 

Kerubo Nyagisera’s time also ranks No. 2 in the NCAA and No. 3 in the world, making a name for herself in the collegiate world. 

Kentucky will return to competition on April 17 at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville, Florida.