University of Georgia Athletics
Trio Of T&F Underclassmen Shine At USATF U20 Championships
June 19, 2026 | Track & Field
ATHENS, Ga. --- Three Georgia underclassmen combined for a gold, a silver and two bronze medals along with an American under-20 record at the recent 2026 USATF U20 Championships in Eugene, Ore.
On the men's side, freshman Le'Ezra Brown competed in the 110-meter hurdles while freshmen Maddi Cooper (100m hurdles) and Ava Kitchings (100m, long jump) represented the Lady Bulldogs a week after the NCAA Outdoor Championships were held at the same Hayward Field facility on the University of Oregon's campus. That week, the Georgia women won their second straight national outdoor championship while the men finished as the national runner-up.
Brown, a native of Greensboro, N.C., shattered the American U20 record (previously held by Ja'Kobe Tharpe, 13.05, 2024) and the meet record (Tharpe, 13.12, 2024) with his 12.95 clocked in the prelims to become the world's No. 3 all-time performer. Racing with the "junior" 39-inch hurdles, which are slightly lower than the collegiate hurdles, Brown earned the silver medal in the final with a 12.98 (12.977 behind Zacchaeus Brocks' 12.975).
Cooper, an Atlanta native, ran a 12.91 to earn gold in the 100m hurdle final (33-inch hurdles). Cooper started the hurdle prelims with a then personal record of 12.96.
Kitchings, a Braselton, Ga., native, had the fastest qualifying time in the 100m prelims (11.23) before earning a bronze medal in the final with an 11.39. Her prelims finish ranks eighth on the school's all-time list.
In the long jump, Kitchings took off for an effort of 6.25m/20-6.25 to collect another bronze.
Results and recaps from all of Georgia's track and field action can be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at@UGATrack.
On the men's side, freshman Le'Ezra Brown competed in the 110-meter hurdles while freshmen Maddi Cooper (100m hurdles) and Ava Kitchings (100m, long jump) represented the Lady Bulldogs a week after the NCAA Outdoor Championships were held at the same Hayward Field facility on the University of Oregon's campus. That week, the Georgia women won their second straight national outdoor championship while the men finished as the national runner-up.
Brown, a native of Greensboro, N.C., shattered the American U20 record (previously held by Ja'Kobe Tharpe, 13.05, 2024) and the meet record (Tharpe, 13.12, 2024) with his 12.95 clocked in the prelims to become the world's No. 3 all-time performer. Racing with the "junior" 39-inch hurdles, which are slightly lower than the collegiate hurdles, Brown earned the silver medal in the final with a 12.98 (12.977 behind Zacchaeus Brocks' 12.975).
Cooper, an Atlanta native, ran a 12.91 to earn gold in the 100m hurdle final (33-inch hurdles). Cooper started the hurdle prelims with a then personal record of 12.96.
Kitchings, a Braselton, Ga., native, had the fastest qualifying time in the 100m prelims (11.23) before earning a bronze medal in the final with an 11.39. Her prelims finish ranks eighth on the school's all-time list.
In the long jump, Kitchings took off for an effort of 6.25m/20-6.25 to collect another bronze.
Results and recaps from all of Georgia's track and field action can be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at@UGATrack.
Players Mentioned
Sprints/Hurdles
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Sprints/Hurdles
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Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & FieldSunday, June 14
Sunday, June 14
Sunday, June 14
Saturday, June 13