HU Assistant Joins The World Elite In Budapest

Las Vegas, New Mexico -  New Mexico Highlands University assistant track and field coach Damia Russell is in Budapest, Hungary, this week for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships, set for Friday through Sunday at the site of the 2023 World Championships.

​Described as a first-of-its-kind gathering of the world's best athletes, the event boasts the richest purse in the sport's history—awarding $150,000 to each individual winner. Entry is strictly limited to reigning champions from the 2024 Paris Olympics and 2025 Tokyo World Championships, alongside top athletes selected through world rankings. 

​Russell is on-site supporting Jamaican star Bryan Levell as he lines up against the world's best in the men's 200m. Russell has mentored Levell for several years, including serving as a member of the Jamaican delegation at last September's World Championships in Tokyo, where Levell captured a bronze medal.

​"A huge honor for Coach Russell to be invited to this event," said NMHU Head Coach Bob DeVries. "We are very lucky to have an internationally recognized sprint coach on our staff here at NMHU."