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Eric Edwards Jr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eric Edwards Jr.
Personal information
Nationality USA
Born3 January 2000 (24 years, 351 days old)[1]
Home townHouston, Texas[2]
Education
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[3]
Weight68 kg (150 lb)[1]
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)110 metres hurdles
60 metres hurdles
College team
Achievements and titles
National finals
Personal best(s)110mH:
13.15 (+0.0) (2022)

60mH:
7.58 (2021)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  United States
Pan American U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Trujillo 110 m hurdles
Gold medal – first place 2019 San José 110 m hurdles
Updated on 15 January 2024

Eric Edwards Jr. (born 3 January 2000) is an American hurdler specializing in the 110 metres hurdles. He was the only athlete in Pan American U20 Championships history to win twice in the 110 m hurdles, at the 2017 and 2019 editions. At the 2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Edwards finished 2nd in a time of 13.15 seconds, the fifth-fastest time in American collegiate history.

Biography

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Edwards is from Houston, Texas, where he attended Langham Creek High School. As a prep, he won the 2017 Texas UIL 6A state championships in the 110 m hurdles.[3] Later that season at the 2017 Pan American U20 Athletics Championships, Edwards won his first international gold medal in the same event.[4]

In October 2017, Edwards committed to the Oregon Ducks track and field program, which he represented for one year.[5] At Oregon, he qualified for the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships finals but was disqualified for running around one of the hurdles.[6]

In July 2019, he transferred to the LSU Tigers track and field program for the remainder of his collegiate career.[7] As he was still under 20 years old, he went on to compete at his second Pan American U20 Championships in San José, Costa Rica later that year, where he won the gold medal again despite healing from a sprained ankle. In doing so, he became the first athlete in meeting history to win twice in the 110 m hurdles.[8]

Edwards qualified for the 2021 United States Olympic trials, but he stopped prior to reaching the second hurdle and did not advance to the finals.[9] At LSU, Edwards competed at a further three NCAA championships, with a best finish of 2nd at the 2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in a personal best of 13.15 seconds. The performance was described as "the race of his life" as it made him the fifth fastest performer in American collegiate history, and the fourth fastest in the world that year.[10] Edwards went on to make the finals of the 2022 and 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He came closest to making the U.S. team with his fourth-place finish in 2023, just outside the top three needed to qualify for the 2023 World Athletics Championships.[1]

Statistics

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Best performances

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Event Mark Place Competition Venue Date Ref
110 metres hurdles 13.15 (±0.0 m/s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) NCAA Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 10 June 2022 [1]
60 metres hurdles 7.58 5th NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships Fayetteville, Arkansas 13 March 2021 [1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Eric Edwards Jr. at Tilastopaja (registration required)
  2. ^ a b "Eric Edwards Jr. – Track and Field". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "Eric Edwards Jr". LSU. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  4. ^ "DuckSportsAuthority – Ducks land nation's No. 1 hurdler". oregon.rivals.com. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  5. ^ Mull, Cory. "Nation's Top Returning Hurdler Eric Edwards Commits To Oregon". MileSplit United States. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  6. ^ Hansen, Chris. "Ducks depleted in hurdles after transfers". The Register-Guard. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Eric Edwards Jr. Transfers to LSU". RunnerSpace.
  8. ^ "Eric Edwards Jr. Makes Hurdling History, Leading U.S. to Eight Gold Medals on Opening Day of Pan American U-20 Championships". RunnerSpace.
  9. ^ "Pair of Razorback 110m hurdlers set career best times at separate Trials". Arkansas Razorbacks. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Men's Track & Field Finishes Sixth At NCAA Championships". BRProud.com. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
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