Born May 21, 1991, in Rexburg, Idaho, United States, Chari Wanda Hawkins is an accomplished American track and field athlete specializing in combined events. She holds the 2022 U.S. Indoor Pentathlon title. She represents the U.S. in the heptathlon. Hawkins was placed 12th at the 2019 World Championships and improved to eighth at the 2023 World Championships.
Quick Facts on Chari Hawkins' Coach
| Coach Name | Shelia Burrell |
|---|---|
| DOB | January 15, 1972 |
| Hometown/Birthplace | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Employers/College Team | San Diego State University |
| Occupation | Head Coach |
| Sports | Cross Country And Track And Field |
Chari Hawkins's Coach
Chari Hawkins trains under the expert guidance of Shelia Burrell.
Born January 15, 1972, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Shelia Burrell is a retired American heptathlete known for her remarkable career. Burrel is a two-time Olympian, representing the United States in the Summer Olympics of 2000 and 2004. She majored in English and American studies at UCLA, where she was coached by Bob Kersee and later by Jane Frederick. After college, she trained under Cliff Rovelto. She shares no relation to fellow track athletes Leroy and Dawn Burrell. Her dedication and talent have left a lasting legacy in the heptathlon community.
Shelia Burrell's Athletic Career
Shelia Burrell represented the United States at the Summer Olympics twice in 2000 and 2004, with her best finish being fourth. She also earned a bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships and was a two-time silver medalist at the 1999 Pan American Games. Burrell's personal best in the heptathlon is 6472 points and she has been an American national champion four times. Burrell achieved notable success including winning the 2002 Hypo-Meeting, placing fourth at the 1999 and 2000 Hypo-Meetings, and finishing sixth in 2004. She also won the Decastar in France in 2001. Burrell was coached by Bob Kersee and later by Jane Frederick and Cliff Rovelto at UCLA.
Shelia Burrell's Coaching Career
Shelia Burrell is in her 15th season as the head cross country and track and field coach at San Diego State University (SDSU). Burrell has coached four NCAA individual champions, 65 All-Americans, 76 Mountain West (MW) individual champions, 13 MW relay champions, and 220 all-MW performances. She has been named MW Coach of the Year six times and has overseen the setting of over 50 school records.
Burrell coached at Georgetown University before joining SDSU, leading the men's and women's sprints, hurdles, jumps, and throws teams. She was named the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA. Burrell has a rich background as an athlete and coach with certifications in sprints, hurdles, and multi-events. She has coached at various levels, including youth, high school, and junior college track and field.
Key Achievements under Burrell's Leadership:
2023: The Aztecs finished as runners-up in both the MW Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Four athletes earned All-American honors and 23 garnered All-Mountain West recognitions. Jenna Fee Feyerabend (pentathlon) and Simone Johnson (triple jump) both qualified for the NCAA Championships and achieved Second Team All-American honors. Freshman Charlize James placed fifth in the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships.
2022: SDSU won the MW Outdoor Championship marking their second consecutive and fourth in five years. Burrell received her sixth MW Coach of the Year title. The team had 13 All-MW recipients and the 4x400m relay team set a new MW Championships meet record. The quartet of Jalyn Harris, Danae Dyer, Aisha Watt, and Sakura Roberson achieved Second Team All-American status at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
2021: The Aztecs captured the MW Outdoor Championship with 161 points, their highest since 2013. The 4x100m relay team qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships marking SDSU as the only non-power five team to make four of the last five NCAAs in the 4x100m relay.
2020: The team had Asia Smith (pentathlon) and the 4x400m relay team qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships which were canceled due to COVID-19. This was the first time an SDSU 4x4 squad qualified for the NCAAs having previously shattered the school record by nearly six seconds.
2019: Bonnie Draxler finished second in pole vault at the NCAA Championships in both indoor and outdoor and set a school record. The 4x400m relay team won the MW championship in both indoor and outdoor setting a school record for indoor in the process and qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Former Aztec Shanieka Ricketts earned silver in the triple jump at the 2019 Track & Field World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
2018: SDSU won the MW Outdoor Championship. Ashley Henderson broke 11 seconds in the 100-meter dash and set a school record in the indoor 200. Bonnie Draxler tied the school record in the indoor pole vault.
2016-17: The Aztecs won the MW Outdoor Championship and Burrell earned her third MW Coach of the Year title. The team sent 10 student-athletes to the NCAA Outdoor Championships with Micha Auzenne and Ashley Henderson earning USTFCCCA All-American status at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
2015-16: SDSU tied for 20th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Six athletes were named USTFCCCA All-Americans and the team earned 21 All-Mountain West honors. Ashley Henderson had a standout season qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials and earning first-team USTFCCCA All-America honors in both the 100 and 4x100.
2014-15: SDSU placed third in both the indoor and outdoor MW meets. Kristen Brown (pole vault) and Micha Auzenne (100 hurdles) were individual outdoor champions with Bonnie Draxler (pole vault) and Auzenne (60 hurdles) winning indoor titles.
2013-14: SDSU won the MW Outdoor title and tied for 12th at the NCAA Championships. The team had six All-America picks, seven individual MW champions, 20 all-league picks, and set six school records. Burrell was named MW Women's Coach of the Year.
2012-13: SDSU swept the MW indoor and outdoor titles. The team had five All-America picks, 14 MW individual champions, two relay champs, 32 all-league selections, and seven school records. Burrell was named MW Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year and USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Coach of the Year.
Shelia Burrell's Awards & Achievement
Shelia Burrell has Coached 76 individual champions and 13 relay champions in the Mountain West Conference.
Shelia Burrell is a recognized Six-time recipient of Mountain West Coach of the Year
Shelia Burrell has mentored 65 All-Americans.
Shelia Burrell has over 50 school records set under her leadership.
FAQ's On Chari Hawkins's Coach
A. Chari Hawkins hails from Rexburg, Idaho, United States.
A. Chari Hawkins is 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) tall.
A. Chari Hawkins went to Utah State University and completed her master's from the University of Bath.
