IMG Academy & Rekortan Set the Stage for Speed at Under Armour Nationals
Athletes will experience the new Rekortan Gel ‘super track’
On May 29–31, the best young athletes in the USA will compete at the Under Armour Nationals at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
The event is a true elite competition, with the entries and competition structure designed to ensure that the highest-level competitors earn their place and that field sizes remain intentional, competitive, and performance driven.
As one of the world’s premier athletic development institutions, IMG Academy has built its reputation around creating elite environments where athletes can maximize their potential. Rekortan is the official track of the IMG Academy, and the addition of the new Rekortan Gel track and a world class throws complex reinforces IMG’s investment in providing athletes with the highest standard of competition and training infrastructure in the sport.
You’ve heard of super shoes. Meet super tracks.
Rekortan Gel is a new category of tracks. The track features nano technology that works on similar principles to modern “super shoes,” storing and returning energy with every step.
This is achieved through a 9mm Gel layer containing trillions of microscopic liquid bubbles, which act like a fully integrated network of microscopic springs. As the microscopic liquid bubbles deform and reform, the energy is delayed and released over a slightly longer time which provides optimal energy return to the athlete. This results in less impact on the body and more pop. This patented technology is only available with Rekortan Gel tracks.
Feedback from coaches and athletes around the world, independent testing at the University of Tennessee and performances at elite events confirms the science - athletes are fitter, fresher and faster on Rekortan Gel.
The brightest young talent & pro stars
The Under Armour Nationals field is expected to deliver some of the fastest times and biggest performances of the season.
On the high school side, fans will witness an extraordinary lineup of national leaders, record holders, and future collegiate stars including:
Blake Hamilton — USA #1 in the 200m (20.38) with a wind-aided 19.90
Andrew Jones — US #1 all-time hurdler and Texas A&M commit
Camryn Dailey — 14-year-old world record holder in the 200m (22.73)
Melanie Doggett — US #1 in the 100m (11.01)
Joshua Cooper — US #1 in the 800m (1:48.98)
Nia Armstrong — US leader in the 400m hurdles
Eric Rose and Jaxon Jerabek — both entering at 17’9”
The event also has professional showcase races, which are equally loaded with talent, particularly in the 800m where multiple Olympians, national champions, and world finalists will battle under the lights.
The men’s field includes, Edose Ibadin (2017 World Championships, Nigeria), Navasky Anderson (Paris 2024 Olympics, Jamaica), Handal Roban (Paris 2024 Olympics, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) and Wes Ferguson (9 x NCAA All-American, USA)
While the women’s field features Michaela Meyer (NCAA Champion, USA), Victoria Bossong (NCAA Finalist, USA), Kelly Ann Beckford (National Champion, Jamaica) and Taiya Shelby (World Indoor Championships, USA).
With integrated pacing technology, elite championship competition, and a Rekortan Gel track engineered for performance, the stage is set for record-chasing performances throughout the weekend.
Rekortan is the world’s most certified track
Since 1969, Rekortan® has been trusted and chosen by coaches, athletes and events worldwide, including the Olympic Games and World Championships. With the most World Athletics’ certified tracks, most Olympic records and the most Diamond League venues, Rekortan® continues to lead the sport in high-performance, long-lasting tracks.
‘More pop. Less pounding.’
Rekortan Gel has already helped elevate performances on some of the sport’s biggest stages, including the 2026 Australian Athletics Championships, and now the technology arrives at one of the premier destinations in American track & field.
Athletes often describe the Rekortan Gel track sensation as ‘more pop, less pounding’, which means the athletes at the Under Armour Nationals can expect to feel fit, fast and fresh.
About Under Armour Nationals at IMG Academy
Under Armour Nationals at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, May 29–31 brings together many of the nation’s top high school track & field athletes for one of the premier championship events of the season. Competitors will compete on IMG Academy’s new Rekortan Gel G13 track and brand-new world-class throws complex. The event showcases elite national championship competition across all disciplines and will be broadcast live on RunnerSpace. Athletes receive premium Under Armour athlete backpacks and top-six finishers earn custom All-American awards. Built for fast times, big jumps, and huge throws, Under Armour Nationals provides a world-class stage for the next generation of track & field stars.