'To lose him so suddenly is tragic': Former University of Houston track and field athlete dies at 26

On Aug. 9, former University of Houston (UH) track and field star Cameron Burrell, who won an NCAA title, died at the age of 26.

Burrell was the son of two Olympic gold medalists who followed in his parents' footsteps and became an NCAA track and field champion, according to Yahoo! News. 

No cause of death has been officially been released.

“My family is extremely saddened with the loss of our son, Cameron, last night,” Leroy Burrell said in a release, according KHOU 11 News. “We are going through profound sorrow and ask that all of our friends, extended University of Houston family and the track and field community in the U.S. and abroad allow us to gather with our closest family and friends. We are profoundly grief-stricken and thank everyone for the outpouring of prayers and support. We will forward more information when it is available."

While attending UH from 2013 to 2018, Burrell was coached by his father, Leroy, the program's longtime coach, according to KHOU 11 News. In 2018, he won the individual national championship in the 100-meter like his father did almost 30 years before.

"We are devastated by the unexpected passing of alumnus Cameron Burrell," The University of Houston wrote in an Aug. 10 Twitter post. "We offer our sincerest condolences and support to the Burrell family and all who knew him, including Cameron’s many friends, coaches and teammates."

Burrell won gold at the 2012 World Junior Championships as a member of the United States 4x100-meter relay team and later also earned a silver at the 2019 World Relays. In 2018, he anchored the U.S. relay team to a gold finish at the Athletics World Cup.

Burrell was continuing a family tradition of athletic achievement. His mother, Michelle Finn-Burrell, won gold in the 4x100-meter relay at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, according to Yahoo! News. His father also won gold in the 4x100-meter relay at the same Olympics and would later also earn the gold for the event at the 1991 and 1993 world championships.

“Words cannot express how we feel for Leroy, Michelle and their family,” UH athletics director Chris Pezman said in a release, according to Yahoo! News. “Cameron grew up around the Houston Athletics Department, worked hard and developed himself into one of our greatest Track and Field stars. To lose him so suddenly is tragic. We ask all University of Houston and track and field fans to keep Coach Burrell and his family in their thoughts and prayers.”

Burrell is survived by his parents, his brothers, Joshua and Jaden Burrell and various family members.