Zaya Akins
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | American | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 30 August 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | Sprint | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best | 400m: 51.33 (2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Zaya Akins (born 30 August 2005) is an American sprinter.[1]
Early life
[edit]She attended Raytown South High School in Missouri, before attending University of South Carolina.[2] She won eight state high school championships, breaking the Missouri state record in both the 200 and 400 metres.[3]
Career
[edit]She won a gold medal as part of the USA 4x400m relay team at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.[4]
She missed the 2023 season through injury, but bounced back to win the USATF U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon with a time of 51.81 seconds in June 2024,[5]
She reached the final of the 400 metres at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.[6] In the final she ran 52.00 seconds flat to win the bronze medal.[7] She also won gold in the 4x400m relay at the Championships.[8]
Personal life
[edit]Her father Eli was a high school sprinter. She has two screws in her left knee after breaking her leg playing volleyball. She has been trained by Olympic runner Muna Lee.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Zaya Akins". World Athletics. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "Sprinter Zaya Akins, other locals make USA's roster for U-20 world championships". Kansascity.com. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ Young, Mason (5 July 2023). "She's the fastest girls sprinter in Missouri history. Where will she compete in college?". Kansascitystar. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "World Athletics U20 Championships". World Athletics. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "YOUNG AMERICAN STANDOUTS EARN PLACES ON USATF U20 TEAM". Runnerspace. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Reid and Walaza win world U20 100m titles in Lima". World Athletics. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "Almayew sets steeplechase championship record to win world U20 title in Lima". World Athletics. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Reid anchors Jamaica to 4x100m title to secure golden double in Lima". World Athletics. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ Han, Nathan (14 June 2022). "Record-setting sprinter Zaya Akins takes her talents to the national level this summer". Kansascitystar. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- 2005 births
- Living people
- American female sprinters
- African-American track and field athletes
- 21st-century American sportswomen
- South Carolina Gamecocks women's track and field athletes
- 21st-century African-American sportswomen
- Track and field athletes from Missouri
- World Athletics U20 Championships winners