University of Georgia Athletics
Six Bulldogs Shine on the World Stage at 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships
August 10, 2026 | Track & Field
EUGENE, Ore. – Georgia track & field collected six medals at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships, held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., this past week.
All-American duo Le'Ezra Brown and Maddi Cooper secured world titles in the short hurdles, completing the United States' first sweep of both events.
Cooper captured her first world title in the women's 100m hurdles, clocking a 12.91 finish in the final. That finish serves as the world U20 lead and is tied for third in the Georgia record books. Cooper also becomes the first American woman to win the title since fellow Bulldog Kendell Williams did so back in 2014.
Brown followed with a historic finish in the men's 110m hurdles at the 99cm height, crossing the line at 12.72 to secure gold. Brown's finish equals the world U20 record and marks the first gold medal in the event for the United States in 10 years.
Incoming freshman Aseel Osama Abdel Hamid also made history for her home country of Egypt in the women's javelin, taking home gold on a heave of 59.82m/196-03. That mark ranks fourth in the Georgia record books already. Her gold medal is the first by an Egyptian athlete at a U20 World Championships.
Back on the track, a duo of Bulldogs earned medals in the women's 400m. Incoming freshman Ataja Stephanie-Vazquez secured silver for the United States, crossing the line at 51.36. That finish ranks eighth in UGA History. Sophomore Tianna Springer followed in third at 51.76 to capture bronze for her home country of Guyana.
Ava Kitchings secured the final medal of the weekend with a third place finish in the mixed 4x100m relay for the United States. The squad earned bronze with a 41.39 finish.
International track and field competition continues next month with the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungry.
News and updates from Georgia's track & field and cross country teams are always located on georgiadogs.com as well as X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
All-American duo Le'Ezra Brown and Maddi Cooper secured world titles in the short hurdles, completing the United States' first sweep of both events.
Cooper captured her first world title in the women's 100m hurdles, clocking a 12.91 finish in the final. That finish serves as the world U20 lead and is tied for third in the Georgia record books. Cooper also becomes the first American woman to win the title since fellow Bulldog Kendell Williams did so back in 2014.
Brown followed with a historic finish in the men's 110m hurdles at the 99cm height, crossing the line at 12.72 to secure gold. Brown's finish equals the world U20 record and marks the first gold medal in the event for the United States in 10 years.
Incoming freshman Aseel Osama Abdel Hamid also made history for her home country of Egypt in the women's javelin, taking home gold on a heave of 59.82m/196-03. That mark ranks fourth in the Georgia record books already. Her gold medal is the first by an Egyptian athlete at a U20 World Championships.
Back on the track, a duo of Bulldogs earned medals in the women's 400m. Incoming freshman Ataja Stephanie-Vazquez secured silver for the United States, crossing the line at 51.36. That finish ranks eighth in UGA History. Sophomore Tianna Springer followed in third at 51.76 to capture bronze for her home country of Guyana.
Ava Kitchings secured the final medal of the weekend with a third place finish in the mixed 4x100m relay for the United States. The squad earned bronze with a 41.39 finish.
International track and field competition continues next month with the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungry.
News and updates from Georgia's track & field and cross country teams are always located on georgiadogs.com as well as X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
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Sprints/Hurdles
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