Earlier today, Georgia's rookie superstar, Will Sumner, announced via Instagram that he is turning pro and has signed with Adidas. The middle distance superstar ran 1:44.26 for 800 meters back in June to win the national title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. That mark now sits at NCAA #5 all-time.
Sumner will toe the line for the 800 meter finals on Sunday, July 9th at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships for a chance to advance to the 2023 World Championships.
A middle distance phenom while in high school, Sumner immediately showed promise during the winter months in his first year in the NCAA. The Georgia native won the indoor SEC title over 800 meters and advanced to the 800 meter finals at the NCAA Indoor Championships (where he placed 7th).
On the outdoor oval, Sumner won yet another SEC title over 800 meters and then stunned everyone with a monster national title victory with his aforementioned time of 1:44.26. It should be noted that Sumner's coach at Georgia, Pat Henner, is no longer with the team. His replacement, per one source, has been hired.
With Sumner now out of the NCAA, the door for the Division One 800 meter national title has swung open yet again. Incoming Alabama transfer Oussama El Bouchayby, Texas' Yusuf Bizimana and Penn State's Handal Roban will be among the top contenders for NCAA gold in the half-mile distance come 2024.