The World University Games, known around the world as Universiade, is an international multi-sport event organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation. The Universiade is an international sporting and cultural festival staged every two years in a different city around the world, representing both winter and summer competitions. It is second only in importance to the Olympic Games.
Since 1959, the games have been held semiannually and representing teams must be selected by the U.S. International University Sports Federation.
The games, also known as The Universiades, are a sports and culture festival held for both winter and summer games every two years in various cities around the globe. The Universiades’ prestige level is just under the Olympics.
In the past, the committee selected a coaching staff who would pull athletes from across the U.S. to form Team USA. Selection tactics have changed recently, and they now pick a sole university to represent the country.
Burrell will get to pick some athletes who have already graduated from UH along with current athletes.
Former sprinter LeShon Collins and hurdler Issac Williams will be eligible for the team since they have only spent a year away from the squad.
Burks told the News Herald on Friday she was still adjusting to the 13-hour time difference, and is set to compete on Aug. 25 in preliminaries. The finals are Aug. 27.
She is the daughter of Patrick and Tashata Jackson of Kilgore, and the big sister of Kilgore senior quarterback Patrick “Buddy” Jackson (as well as Jordan Jackson). She is a 2014 KHS graduate and a former UIL state track meet medal-winner.
Earlier this year, Burks set a school record in the triple jump at the Victor Lopez Classic at Rice University. Her new record is 43 feet, 5 ½ inches. She owns both the indoor and outdoor school records. She’s also the defending American Athletic Conference triple jump champion and an NCAA West regional qualifier.
Due to a 13-hour time difference, the Cougars will compete primarily in the early morning hours throughout the meet. However Tuesday’s competition is set to begin at 8 p.m. CT, with the first round of the women’s and men’s 400-meter dash. The men’s shot put and the men’s and women’s 100-meter dash will also be held on the opening day.
For the women, sophomore Birexus Hawkins and alum Kelli Hardnett will run the 400 in Heats 3 and 5, respectively, while incoming transfer Kahmari Montgomery will compete for the men. Senior Cameron Cornelius will throw the shot put for USA in Group A, while senior Cameron Burrell (Heat 9) and alum LeShon Collins (Heat 11) will run the 100 for the men, while Sierra Smith will run the straight track for the women in Heat 2.
In winning medals for USA Team, the Cougars have a key opportunity to prepare themselves for the upcoming season as they look to end the women’s championship drought.
Head Coach Leroy Burrell earned seven Women’s Coach of the Year honors in the mid 2000’s. During that time frame the Cougars won nine Conference-USA championships. The women have since struggled to match that success.
They have not claimed a conference title since 2006 and have not produced an All-American in two years.
The arrival of last year’s large and talented freshman class could once again make the women contenders. Their impact of athletes like Samiyah Samuels, Sierra Smith, Justice Henderson and Birexus Hawkins was felt immediately. The women’s third place finish at the American Athletic Conference Indoor championships was their first podium finish in three years.
The Cougars were on the track for the first time at the event with the first round of the women’s 400-meter hurdles, where sophomore Birexus Hawkins and alum Kelli Hardnett were in action in heats three and five, respectively.
Hawkins crossed the line in 57.14 to finish fourth in Heat 3 and earn an automatic qualifying berth into the semifinal round, while finishing with the 24th fastest preliminary time. Hardnett followed by running 54.47, the 13th fastest qualifying time and the fourth fastest mark in her heat to place her in the semis.
The 100-meter dash saw the first two rounds of action completed on the opening day. Senior Cameron Burrell ran 10.43 to win his opening round heat before clocking a 10.42 in the second round to qualify for the semifinals with the eighth-fastest overall mark. Alum LeShon Collins ran the second-fastest time in the opening round at 10.30 before returning to run 10.43 in the second round and qualify ninth for Thursday’s semifinal.
Sophomore Sierra Smith qualified for the second round of action after a time of 11.98 earned her a position on time. Smith would return to the track to run 12.04 in the second round and finish 29th overall.
In the field events, sophomore Samiyah Samuels became the first Cougar to reach the finals after her second attempt in the long jump traveled 19-11.5 (6.08m) to qualify ninth overall for Wednesday’s competition.
Sophomore Justice Henderson jumped 16-10.0 (5.13m) to finish 26th in the long jump.
In the throws, senior Cameron Cornelius wrapped the shot put with a 12th place finish after a mark of 57-4.25 (17.48m).
