Scott Russell
Born: Windsor, Ontario, Canada

F.J. Brennan Catholic (Ontario, Canada) H.S., 1997 / University of Kansas, 2002

A difficult freshman season in high school had Scott Russell thinking that the javelin wasn’t for him.
“I was a terrible javelin thrower in the ninth grade,” Russell said. “I nearly quit before I really fell in
love. The next year my coach encouraged me to come back out to just continue throwing the javelin. I just continued to get better every single year.”

The decision not to quit was a pivotal one. Russell’s perseverance propelled him to two NCAA track
and field championships in throwing events at the University of Kansas and a spot on Canada’s
Olympic team. “It was an instance where my high school coach saw something in me that I didn’t,” Russell said. “If he doesn’t do that; I may not have even ended up in track and field.”

Russell was born Jan. 16, 1979, in Windsor, Ontario. Following his graduation from high school in
1997, he elected to attend KU and compete in track and field.

For the Jayhawks, he found success in the javelin, hammer throw and indoor weight throw. Russell
won three indoor conference titles in the weight throw (1999, 2001, 2002) and six outdoor conference championships in the javelin (1998, 2000, 2002) and hammer throw (1999, 2000 ,2002).

He also was a six-time All-America selection, earning the status four times for the indoor weight throw (1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002) and twice in the javelin (1999 and 2002). Russell set a school record in the javelin at KU with a mark of 267 feet, 11 inches.

In 2002, Russell won an indoor NCAA title in the weight throw and an outdoor title in the javelin. He also was named the 2002 Big 12 Outdoor Performer of the Year.

Russell also excelled in international competitions. Representing Canada, he competed in the javelin at several prestigious events including the 2001 World Championships (13th), 2002 Commonwealth Games (second), 2005 World Championships (12th), 2006 Commonwealth Games (eighth), 2007 World Championships (23rd) and 2011 World Championships (19th).

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Russell placed 10th in the javelin with a mark of 265 feet, 4 inches. In 2011, he set a Kansas Relays javelin record with a distance of 268 feet, 11 inches.

Following his career in track and field, he has worked as a physical education teacher in the Basehor-Linwood school district and as the strength and conditioning coordinator at Eudora High School.
Russell is in the KU Booth Family Hall of Athletics and the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame