Photo by: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Track’s Garland, Sumner Earn USTFCCCA South Region Honors
June 15, 2023 | Track & Field
ATHENS, Ga. – Bulldog senior Kyle Garland has been named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) South Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row while freshman Will Sumner has been named the Men's Track Athlete of the Year outdoors, according to an announcement Thursday.
Garland, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., is the sixth different member of the men's team to garner this honor since 2009 and the first to repeat the feat. His former training partner and 2021 NCAA decathlon champion Karel Tilga won the 2021 award giving the Bulldogs three consecutive accolades in the category. Sumner is only the second Bulldog to be named the outdoor Men's Track Athlete of the Year and first since All-American hurdler Justin Gaymon in 2008.
Garland scored the third-best decathlon total in collegiate history with an 8,630 to earn silver at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He won three of 10 events at Nationals, including registering the top all-time collegiate decathlon 110-meter hurdle time (13.54). Garland captured the Southeastern Conference decathlon title with the No. 4 all-time collegiate score (meet record 8,589). In addition, he launched the shot put an all-time collegiate decathlon best distance of 16.77 meters/55 feet, ¼ inches in the shot put at the Mt. SAC Relays.
Sumner, a native of Canton, Ga., ran a school and facility record time of 1:44.26 to win Georgia's first NCAA 800m title and was the anchor on the First Team All-America 4x400m relay team at the NCAA Championships. His 800m performance made him No. 5 all-time collegiate performer. Sumner was also the top finisher during the NCAA semifinal round with then school record 1:46.00. He locked down the SEC 800m crown with another then school record of 1:46.20. The SEC Freshman Runner of the Year also ran a leg on the winning 4x400m relay team at the Texas Relays after the foursome combined for a school record 2:58.82 (No. 4 all-time collegiate performer).
While the collegiate season is now complete, a number of Bulldogs are expected to compete at a variety of summer meets. Garland and Sumner will represent Georgia at the USATF Championships in Eugene, Ore., on July 6-9. Those who qualify out of USAs advance to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Aug. 19-27.
How To Keep Up With The Dogs: Results and recaps from all of Georgia's action can 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.
Garland, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., is the sixth different member of the men's team to garner this honor since 2009 and the first to repeat the feat. His former training partner and 2021 NCAA decathlon champion Karel Tilga won the 2021 award giving the Bulldogs three consecutive accolades in the category. Sumner is only the second Bulldog to be named the outdoor Men's Track Athlete of the Year and first since All-American hurdler Justin Gaymon in 2008.
Garland scored the third-best decathlon total in collegiate history with an 8,630 to earn silver at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He won three of 10 events at Nationals, including registering the top all-time collegiate decathlon 110-meter hurdle time (13.54). Garland captured the Southeastern Conference decathlon title with the No. 4 all-time collegiate score (meet record 8,589). In addition, he launched the shot put an all-time collegiate decathlon best distance of 16.77 meters/55 feet, ¼ inches in the shot put at the Mt. SAC Relays.
Sumner, a native of Canton, Ga., ran a school and facility record time of 1:44.26 to win Georgia's first NCAA 800m title and was the anchor on the First Team All-America 4x400m relay team at the NCAA Championships. His 800m performance made him No. 5 all-time collegiate performer. Sumner was also the top finisher during the NCAA semifinal round with then school record 1:46.00. He locked down the SEC 800m crown with another then school record of 1:46.20. The SEC Freshman Runner of the Year also ran a leg on the winning 4x400m relay team at the Texas Relays after the foursome combined for a school record 2:58.82 (No. 4 all-time collegiate performer).
While the collegiate season is now complete, a number of Bulldogs are expected to compete at a variety of summer meets. Garland and Sumner will represent Georgia at the USATF Championships in Eugene, Ore., on July 6-9. Those who qualify out of USAs advance to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Aug. 19-27.
How To Keep Up With The Dogs: Results and recaps from all of Georgia's action can 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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Mid-Distance
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