Akala Garrett

Akala Garrett (born May 10, 2005) is an American track and field athlete. She won gold medals at the 2022 World Junior Championships in the 400 metres hurdles and the 4 × 400 m relay.

Akala Garrett
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (2005-05-10) May 10, 2005
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event(s)Hurdling, Sprinting
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)400 mH: 56.16 (Cali 2022)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  United States
World U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place2022 Cali400m hurdles
Gold medal – first place2022 Cali4x400 m relay

Personal life

Garrett attended Harding University High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is coached by her mother, former track athlete LaSonja Collins.[1]

Career

Garrett was the Gatorade's North Carolina Girls Track & Field Player of the Year in 2021,[2] and 2022.[3] She won the 100m hurdles and the 400m hurdles at the 2022 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, running 10.91 for the 100 m hurdles and 57.47 for the 400 m hurdles. She had won the 400 m hurdles the year previously also.[4]

She won the 2022 World Junior Championships in the 400 m hurdles and dedicated the win to her former high school principal, Eric Ward.[5] Her time of 56.16 was a world leading U20 time.[6] She finished half a second ahead of nearest rival, Hanna Karlsson of Sweden.[7] She doubled up and also won gold in the 4x400 m relay at the event in Cali, Colombia.[8]

References
  1. "Harding High sophomore hurdler Akala Garrett is in a class by herself". Thecharlottepost.com.
  2. "Akala Garrett growing into Harding University High School star". bvmsports.com. July 20, 2021.
  3. "Harding's Akala Garrett repeats as Gatorade NC Player of the Year in girls track". Highschoolot.com.
  4. "So focused': Charlotte high school athlete to compete on world stage". News.yahoo.com.
  5. "AKALA GARRETT HONORS LATE UNCLE WITH 400-METER HURDLES TITLE AT WORLD ATHLETICS U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS". Runnerspace.com.
  6. "Yemi Mary John storms to world junior 400m gold". Athletics Weekly. August 5, 2022.
  7. "5 best USA athletes at World Athletics U20 Championships 2022 so far". Sportskeeda.com. August 5, 2022.
  8. "Charlotte high school track star adds 'world champion' to long list of accolades". WBTV.com.
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