Ellen Hurst was named the Associate Head Coach and Director of Operations for Colorado’s men’s and women’s cross country and track and field programs in July 2025. She works alongside Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Sean Carlson in overseeing program operations, logistics, and administrative coordination for both programs.

Hurst arrived in Boulder after spending nine seasons (2016–25) as the Director of Operations for the University of Tennessee track and field program, where she was responsible for team travel, meet logistics, budget management, and internal operations.

A decorated student-athlete at Tennessee from 2009–12 under her maiden name, Ellen Wortham, Hurst was an 11-time USTFCCCA All-American and a two-time SEC Champion in the 400-meter hurdles. She still holds the Tennessee school record in the event with a time of 55.55 seconds, set at the 2012 SEC Championships. Hurst was also a member of the 2010 NCAA Champion distance medley relay team and earned SEC titles in both the 400m hurdles and DMR. She was named the 2012 SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year and received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Hurst competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2012 and 2016, placing 10th in the 400m hurdles in 2012 and narrowly missing the final by one-tenth of a second.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology, summa cum laude, from Tennessee in 2012, and later earned an Ed.S. in school psychology from Nicholls State University in 2016. During her graduate studies, Hurst worked in the athletics business office and served as a volunteer assistant with the Nicholls State track and field and cross country programs. She also completed a school psychology internship with Alcoa City Schools, supporting student interventions and behavioral assessments.

A native of Maryville, Tenn., Hurst brings a comprehensive background in collegiate athletics as both a high-level athlete and experienced operations leader.

World Aquatics Awards 2026 World Short-Course Championships to Beijing

World Aquatics on Tuesday announced that the 2026 World Short-Course Championships will be held in Beijing.

Dates have not been announced, but the short-course meet will be held in late 2026. The decision follows “a competitive bidding process and careful consideration by the World Aquatics Bureau,” and the announcement comes as the world aquatic community convenes in Singapore this week for the 2025 World Championships.

The World Aquatics congress, “recognized Beijing’s demonstrated excellence in hosting previous top-level events in swimming, diving, water polo, and artistic swimming.” Beijing has already been named the host of the 24th long-course World Championships in 2029. That will be the fourth of the last five and fifth of the last seven championships to be held in Asia, including three consecutive long-course worlds under FINA president Husain Al Musallam, the first Asian leader of World Aquatics. (The current Worlds were originally awarded to Kazan, Russia, but relocated to Singapore.)

Beijing has hosted 38 World Aquatics events among 109 events in China. It is the only city to host the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2022 Winter Olympics. China has hosted the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, the 2006 Short-Course Championships in Shanghai and the 2018 Short-Course Championships in Hangzhou.

“World Aquatics is delighted that China — a proud swimming nation — and its vibrant capital, Beijing, will host the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) for the first time,” Al Musallam said in a press release. “China has a rich swimming tradition, and we are excited to return to Beijing, where we are confident the world’s best short-course swimmers will be given every opportunity to perform at their highest level. We are deeply grateful to our hosts for their commitment to aquatics and are already looking forward to 2026.”

The China Swimming Association and Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports will organize the event.

“We are thrilled and deeply honoured to host the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in 2026 in Beijing, a city with a proud Olympic history and a passion for aquatic sports,” CSA president Zhou Jihong said. “This prestigious competition brings together the world’s best swimmers, and with the remarkable number of World Records broken at the last edition, we anticipate another great spectacle. We look forward to welcoming swimming fans from around the globe and providing an unforgettable experience for all.”

China has emerged as one of the elite nations in swimming over the last several decades. China has won 12 gold medals and 28 swimming medals over the last two editions of the World Championships.

“I can’t wait to compete at the World Swimming Championships in Beijing,” said Pan Zhanle, the world record-holder in the men’s 100 freestyle. “The atmosphere and energy of short-course racing, combined with the intensity of a championship event, will create an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. With so many records falling at the 2024 short-course Worlds, I aim to add my name to that list in 2026 in front of my home fans. Hearing that this prestigious event is coming to China in 2026 is exciting, and I know the fans will bring amazing support.”

NEW ORLEANS – All-Academic Athletes and Teams for the 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Track & Field seasons were announced on July 21 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Awarded to all nominated student-athletes who meet ALL the following criteria:

1. Cumulative team GPA of all student-athletes who used a season of eligibility must be at least a 3.10 on a 4.0 scale through the most recent semester/quarter, computed by the following method:

   1. Total the cumulative number of semester hours or quarter hours earned for all student-athletes who used a season of eligibility, including the most recent grading period;
   2. Total the cumulative number of quality points (GPA multiplied by the number of credit hours) earned by all student-athletes who used a season of eligibility, including the most recent grading period;
   3. Divide the cumulative number of quality points earned by the cumulative number of semester or quarter hours earned.
   4. Institutions utilizing a different GPA scale than 4.0 then must convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale using the standard conversion method [GPA/Scale x 4.0]. Data must be certifiable by the institution’s registrar.

2. Graduate students must take all undergraduate plus graduate coursework into account.

Awarded to all nominated student-athletes who meet ALL the following criteria:

1. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale through the most recently completed grading period. Institutions utilizing a different GPA scale must convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale using the standard conversion method [GPA/Scale x 4.0]. Data must be certifiable by the institution’s registrar.
2. Meet one of the following athletic criteria:

   1. Must have finished the season among the top 50 individuals as listed on the descending order lists on TFRRS. In addition, any athletes not among the top 50, but who participated at the Indoor OR Outdoor National Championships, are eligible.
   2. Must have competed as a member of one of the top 35 relay teams as listed on the descending order list on TFRRS. In addition, any athletes not among the top 35 relay teams, but who participated in the relay at the Indoor OR Outdoor National Championships, are eligible. Finally, any competing relay team member on an expanded descending order list to include 35 institutions (1 relay team per institution) is eligible.

3. Graduate students must take all undergraduate plus graduate coursework into account.

The men’s team obtained a cumulative GPA of 3.4, while the women earned a 3.64.

Individually, 12 women were honored with this distinction and one student-athlete from the men’s program made the list.

The England pair have put in excellent performances at their previous two Euros competitions, finishing fifth in 2023 in Austria and ninth the Netherlands just under 12 months ago. 

But a knee injury to Javier means the brothers have not taken to the court in tandem since April at the Elite 16 event in Saquarema, Brazil. 

It means that while they go in as number six seeds, they will be hampered by the disadvantage of having no match practice ahead of facing what is a seriously tough level of competition. 

Nevertheless, the siblings are just pleased to be out on the sand in Germany after three months of being unable to compete. 

“The injury related to overuse that is quite common for beach volleyball players, associated with repetitive jumps and sharp changes of direction,” said Javier. 

“It was in Saquarema at the beginning of April when the level of pain would not allow me to continue. The challenge has been to return for this European Championships. 

“I’m not 100%, but far enough along the road to recovery to play. It has been a difficult process and we’re not done yet, but starting to see the other side and excited for the opportunity to play.” 

Joaquin added: “I am very pleased to be back competing with Javier. I have had some really positive experiences while he’s been out injured, mostly playing King of the Court and National Tours with my younger brother and other partners, while Javier was focusing on his recovery. 

“It does make it harder to prepare having not competed for so long, yes, but we have prepared for this event as best as we could, keeping in mind Javier’s need to gradually come back to full jumping and full speed. 

“I feel really good physically and will be ready to support him and lead our team.” 

Javier admits it has been strange to be sidelined for so long, having played so regularly as they began their meteoric risen up the rankings. 

However, he says the down time has given the brothers chance to take stock of their progress. 

“This week marks nine years since we started competing internationally, over 96 tournaments together… It shows how lucky I am to be injured for the first time for this long,” he said. 

“I broke a small bone in my hand in 2022, but that was a lot quicker to recover from. There is never a good time to get injured, but it’s a little better that we have this problem at the beginning of this Olympic cycle. 

“We have to think long-term, and being out for a little while has been helping me develop in different ways, so we try to focus on that. 

“Germany is a really good place to make our return as it is a great host for sports events and a great place to play. 

“The organisation is always impeccable, with fans filling the stadiums to cheer for their teams and that’s something that what we enjoy and look forward to.” 

Pool F has been labelled the Pool of Death by some, given the strength of teams who will join the Bellos. 

Their first opponents, Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler, won the Olympic silver medal for Germany in Paris last summer, while the Nerherlands’ Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot have claimed three Elite 16 podium places in 2025 and were part of their nation’s team which finished runners-up to Norway at the recent CEV Beach Volley Nations Cup 2025. 

Talented Swiss pair Yves Haussener and Julian Friedli make up the quartet of teams, but the Bellos concentration for the moment in solely on their first match against the home favourites tomorrow evening. 

Joaquin said: “This year we are seeded much higher than in the previous editions, but with so many great teams competing, we know there will not be any easy games for anyone. 

“Our first match will be against the silver medallists in Paris and home team, so our main focus is on them for now. 

“The rest of the pool, and the whole tournament, is full of experienced teams and, as we always say, everyone knows how to play, so we have to focus on each game and take it step by step.” 

Javier added: “After two great events in 2023 and 2024, this tournament has become really special for us. 

“With my injury, we are just grateful and excited to be here again to play against some of the top teams in the world, with the support of our whole family who have come all the way again to cheer for us.” 

While the Bellos have pushed hard to reach their target of being back for the Euros, their schedule that immediately follows depends on how they fare. 

Another key aim for the rest of the season is to secure a place at the FIVB World Championships 2025 in Australia in November. 

“This is the first big tournament after a few months of not competing and it will depend on how well Javier’s knee responds,” said Joaquin. 

“All being well, we will play next week the Challenge event in Baden (Austria) and then straight to Montreal (Canada) for the Elite16, where we will start from the Main Draw. 

“There will be three more tournaments at this level (one in Germany and two in Brazil) before the qualification period for the World Championships closes, and that is what we will be aiming for.” 

You can watch the brothers progress on EuroVolley TV (subscription only) and also watch out for updates across Volleyball England’s social media channels.