Shelia Burrell
Quick Facts
Biography
Shelia Burrell (born 15 January 1972 in Albuquerque, New Mexico) is a retired American heptathlete. She was a two-time representative of the United States at the Summer Olympics, competing in 2000 and 2004. Her best Olympic finish was fourth place. She also competed twice at the World Championships in Athletics, which included a bronze medal in 2001. She was also a two-time silver medalist at the 1999 Pan American Games. Her personal best for the heptathlon 6472 points and she was American national champion on four occasions.
On the professional circuit, she was the winner of the 2002 Hypo-Meeting, having previously finished fourth at the 1999 Hypo-Meeting and the 2000 Hypo-Meeting. In her last outing there, she was sixth at the 2004 Hypo-Meeting. In 2001, she won the Décastar in France.
She completed a major in English and American studies at UCLA and was coached by Bob Kersee while there, and later by Jane Frederick. After her college career she was coached by Cliff Rovelto. She is not related to namesakes, contemporaries and fellow African-Americans track athletes Leroy Burrell and Dawn Burrell.
International competitions
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Representing the United States | ||||
1995 | Universiade | Fukuoka City, Japan | DNF | Heptathlon |
1998 | Goodwill Games | Uniondale, United States | 7th | Heptathlon |
1999 | World Championships | Seville, Spain | 11th | Heptathlon |
Pan American Games | Winnipeg, Canada | 2nd | Heptathlon | |
2nd | 4×100 m relay | |||
2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | 26th | Heptathlon |
2001 | World Championships | Edmonton, Canada | 3rd | Heptathlon |
2004 | Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 4th | Heptathlon |
National titles
- USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
- Heptathlon: 1999, 2002, 2003
- United States Olympic Trials
- Heptathlon: 2004
Personal bests
- 200 metres – 22.92 (2001)
- 800 metres – 2:10.29 (2000)
- 100 metres hurdles – 13.05 (2001)
- High jump – 1.76 m (5 ft 9 ⁄4 in) (1999)
- Long jump – 6.57 m (21 ft 6 ⁄2 in) (2002)
- Shot put – 15.02 m (49 ft 3 ⁄4 in) (2002)
- Javelin throw – 50.31 m (165 ft ⁄2 in) (2000)
- Heptathlon – 6472 pts (2001)