University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Track & Field Collects a Trio of USTFCCCA National Awards
June 22, 2026 | Track & Field
NEW ORLEANS – The Bulldogs collected three U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national awards, according to an announcement Monday afternoon.
Caryl Smith Gilbert and Karim Abdel Wahab both repeated national honors from last season with Smith Gilbert garnering National Women's Coach of the Year while Abdel Wahab was named National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year. Freshman Adaejah Hodge was named National Women's Track Athlete of the Year.
Smith Gilbert claims the national award for the fourth time in her career, second time while in Athens. Smith Gilbert secured her fifth team national championship and third consecutive one at Georgia by scoring 50 points at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Smith Gilbert had a pair of NCAA individual champions and a trio of collegiate records set to highlight the Bulldogs' national title run.
Abdel Wahab guided his event area athletes to total 23 of Georgia's 50 points as the team clinched the women's second consecutive NCAA outdoor crown. He coached the 400-meter dash champion, Dejanea Oakley, and All-American 400-meter hurdler Michelle Smith, and concluded the meet with a silver-medal performance from the 4x400-meter relay squad (Maisvorewa, Smith, Springer, Oakley). Abdel Wahab also guided the Bulldogs to impressive performances at the conference meet. His crew won the 400m title, finished second in the 400m hurdles, and second in the 4x400m relay.
Hodge collected her first career National Women's Track Athlete of the Year honor. She is the first Bulldog woman ever to win the award. Hodge won a national title in the women's 200m dash, while setting a collegiate record at 21.68. She finished runner-up in the women's 100m dash at 10.93, during the preliminary rounds Hodge also set the collegiate record at 10.63. Additionally, Hodge served as the third leg on the women's 4x100m relay that took bronze at the national championships, bringing Hodge's NCAA outdoor point total to 19.5 points.
Results and recaps from the Bulldogs' outdoor season will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track & field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Caryl Smith Gilbert and Karim Abdel Wahab both repeated national honors from last season with Smith Gilbert garnering National Women's Coach of the Year while Abdel Wahab was named National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year. Freshman Adaejah Hodge was named National Women's Track Athlete of the Year.
Smith Gilbert claims the national award for the fourth time in her career, second time while in Athens. Smith Gilbert secured her fifth team national championship and third consecutive one at Georgia by scoring 50 points at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Smith Gilbert had a pair of NCAA individual champions and a trio of collegiate records set to highlight the Bulldogs' national title run.
Abdel Wahab guided his event area athletes to total 23 of Georgia's 50 points as the team clinched the women's second consecutive NCAA outdoor crown. He coached the 400-meter dash champion, Dejanea Oakley, and All-American 400-meter hurdler Michelle Smith, and concluded the meet with a silver-medal performance from the 4x400-meter relay squad (Maisvorewa, Smith, Springer, Oakley). Abdel Wahab also guided the Bulldogs to impressive performances at the conference meet. His crew won the 400m title, finished second in the 400m hurdles, and second in the 4x400m relay.
Hodge collected her first career National Women's Track Athlete of the Year honor. She is the first Bulldog woman ever to win the award. Hodge won a national title in the women's 200m dash, while setting a collegiate record at 21.68. She finished runner-up in the women's 100m dash at 10.93, during the preliminary rounds Hodge also set the collegiate record at 10.63. Additionally, Hodge served as the third leg on the women's 4x100m relay that took bronze at the national championships, bringing Hodge's NCAA outdoor point total to 19.5 points.
Results and recaps from the Bulldogs' outdoor season will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track & field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
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/ Track & FieldSunday, June 14
Sunday, June 14
Sunday, June 14
Saturday, June 13