University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Kirk Meche
Track Sweeps SEC Outdoor Freshman Runner Of The Year Honors
May 31, 2023 | Track & Field
ATHENS, Ga. --- A freshman on both the Bulldog track and field men and women's teams has each been named the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Freshman Runner of the Year.
Will Sumner, a native of Canton, Ga., has garnered SEC Men's Co-Freshman Runner of the Year honors while Kaila Jackson, a native of Redford, Mich., has been voted the SEC Women's Freshman Runner of the Year.
Sumner is only the second Georgia male to win this award, joining his current training partner and relay mate Elija Godwin (2019). Sumner is the first SEC competitor to collect both the SEC indoor and outdoor honors since 2017. Jackson is the first Lady Bulldog to garner this honor for the women since its inception in 2004. She was also this year's SEC Indoor Freshman Runner of the Year.
Also of note, it was already announced that Matthew Boling was the SEC Men's Outdoor Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The Scholar-Athlete honor was the record-breaking fourth of his career.
Sumner completed the SEC indoor-outdoor 800 meters sweep after registering the nation's second-fastest time this year (fastest by a freshman, school record) of 1:46.20 at the SEC Championships. He also ran the anchor leg split of 45.1 on the third place 4x400m relay team at SECs after the foursome combined to register a 2:59.63, which ranks sixth nationally this year. He was part of Bulldog 4x400m relay team that won the 2023 Texas Relays with the nation's third-best time this year of 2:58.82, which stands fourth on the all-time collegiate performance list.
Most recently, Sumner was second in the 800m quarterfinals at the East Prelims with a 1:49.22 to lock down his spot for the NCAA Championships. He also ran a leg on the winning 4x400m relay team that clinched their spot at Nationals.
Jackson combined to score 14 points individually at the SEC Championships, taking silver in the 100m with a personal record 11.04 (No. 15 in all-time U-20 rankings) and bronze in the 200m with a PR 22.65. She also ran on the Lady Bulldogs' third place 4x100m relay at SECs that clocked a 43.20, which ranks No. 8 on the current NCAA list. Jackson was part of the school record 4x100m team that won the LSU Invitational with a 42.94, which is the No. 16 all-time collegiate performer.
Most recently, Jackson ran a wind-aided 10.95 to win the 100m prelims at the East Prelims before taking seventh in the quarterfinals to qualify for Nationals with a legal 11.09. She also was fifth in the 200m quarters to punch her ticket in a second individual event and ran a leg on the qualifying 4x100m relay team.
Up Next: The Bulldogs return to work in their final action of the year at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas, on June 7-10.
Results and recaps from the NCAA East Prelims will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Will Sumner, a native of Canton, Ga., has garnered SEC Men's Co-Freshman Runner of the Year honors while Kaila Jackson, a native of Redford, Mich., has been voted the SEC Women's Freshman Runner of the Year.
Sumner is only the second Georgia male to win this award, joining his current training partner and relay mate Elija Godwin (2019). Sumner is the first SEC competitor to collect both the SEC indoor and outdoor honors since 2017. Jackson is the first Lady Bulldog to garner this honor for the women since its inception in 2004. She was also this year's SEC Indoor Freshman Runner of the Year.
Also of note, it was already announced that Matthew Boling was the SEC Men's Outdoor Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The Scholar-Athlete honor was the record-breaking fourth of his career.
Sumner completed the SEC indoor-outdoor 800 meters sweep after registering the nation's second-fastest time this year (fastest by a freshman, school record) of 1:46.20 at the SEC Championships. He also ran the anchor leg split of 45.1 on the third place 4x400m relay team at SECs after the foursome combined to register a 2:59.63, which ranks sixth nationally this year. He was part of Bulldog 4x400m relay team that won the 2023 Texas Relays with the nation's third-best time this year of 2:58.82, which stands fourth on the all-time collegiate performance list.
Most recently, Sumner was second in the 800m quarterfinals at the East Prelims with a 1:49.22 to lock down his spot for the NCAA Championships. He also ran a leg on the winning 4x400m relay team that clinched their spot at Nationals.
Jackson combined to score 14 points individually at the SEC Championships, taking silver in the 100m with a personal record 11.04 (No. 15 in all-time U-20 rankings) and bronze in the 200m with a PR 22.65. She also ran on the Lady Bulldogs' third place 4x100m relay at SECs that clocked a 43.20, which ranks No. 8 on the current NCAA list. Jackson was part of the school record 4x100m team that won the LSU Invitational with a 42.94, which is the No. 16 all-time collegiate performer.
Most recently, Jackson ran a wind-aided 10.95 to win the 100m prelims at the East Prelims before taking seventh in the quarterfinals to qualify for Nationals with a legal 11.09. She also was fifth in the 200m quarters to punch her ticket in a second individual event and ran a leg on the qualifying 4x100m relay team.
Up Next: The Bulldogs return to work in their final action of the year at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas, on June 7-10.
Results and recaps from the NCAA East Prelims will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at @UGATrack.
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