Former University of Houston sprinting champion dies at 26

U.S. track star Cameron Burrell passed away Monday at the age of 26. The former University of Houston sprinting champion is survived by his parents and brothers. Burrell ran for the Houston Cougars track team from 2013 to 2018 and competed internationally for the U.S., including winning gold at the 2018 Athletics World Cup.

University of Houston sprinting champion

In five years of competing for the Houston Cougars track team, Cameron Burrell participated in the 60m, 100m and 200m events. He specialized in the 100m and 4x100m relay events, becoming a 2018 NCAA champion in both. His success in the 4x100m relay in 2017 earned him a total of three NCAA champion titles in his college career.

His personal best in the 100m race was an Olympic level 9.93 seconds, and the 4 x100m relay race his team ran in the 2018 NCAA championship was a then-collegiate record at 38.17 seconds.

Following his college career with the University of Houston, the sprinting champion was set to represent America internationally. In the 2018 Athletics World Cup, Burrell was part of the gold medal-winning 4x100m relay team. He participated two times in the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships, once in 2015 as a long jumper where he won gold and once in 2019 where he placed third in the 100m sprint. The international champion relay team recorded a Did Not Finish in the 4x100m due to a dropped baton.

Cameron Burrell’s family

Burrell’s father and mother are both former Olympians, winners of gold medals in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

His parents participated in the same events as Cameron during his career. Cameron’s father, Leroy Burrell, won NCAA championships in the long jump and 100m sprint events. During the 1992 Olympic Games, he won gold with the 4x100m relay team and placed fifth in the 100m sprint. His mother, Michelle Finn-Burrell was also an Olympic gold medalist in the 4x100m relay, winning the same year as her husband.

Beyond his family’s talents, Cameron Burrell’s godfather was the legendary sprinter Carl Lewis.

Leroy Burrell made a statement through the media regarding the passing of his son.

“My family is extremely saddened with the loss of our son, Cameron,” Leroy Burrell said via StarTribune. “We are going through profound sorrow and ask that all of our friends, extended University of Houston family, and the track and field community in the U.S. and abroad allow us to gather with our closest family and friends. We are profoundly grief-stricken and thank everyone for the outpouring of prayers and support.”

Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images