The Undefeated Wildcat

Published by SEC Sports on August 3, 2015

What the University of Kentucky men's basketball team nearly accomplished last season - an undefeated slate -- UK women's hurdler Kendra Harrison did this year.

While the basketball team was piling up 38 wins before suffering a lone loss, "Keni" went undefeated in six finals of the sprint hurdle events in her senior season.

A storybook year included Southeastern Conference and NCAA championships indoors at 60 meters and outdoors at 100 meters, setting SEC records in the process. She also finished as SEC and NCAA runner-up to Texas A&M's Shamier Little in the 400-meter hurdles outdoors, and helped the Wildcats further by running on the 4-by-400 relay team.

No surprise, then, that Harrison is one of three finalists for the women's Bowerman Award, collegiate track and field's top individual award. The other finalists are sprinter/long jumper Jenna Prandini of Oregon and pole vaulter Demi Payne of Stephen F. Austin.

"It's really exciting," Harrison said. "Everyone at this level is really good. For them to just pick three, it kind of makes you speechless. But I work really hard and it's pretty cool to see where I'm at right now."