Gloucester Athletic Club sprinter Ella Edwards is heading to university in the USA, after committing to division one college, Jacksonville State University.
The former Hartpury College student, who attended Barnwood Park School in Gloucester, has had a remarkable start to her 2025 season, and now harbours ambitions to compete internationally for Great Britain, after winning silver at the English Under-20 Championships.
“I’d love to end up properly competing for GB. I’ve only ever competed for England, so I’d love to be able to compete internationally like that,” Edwards said.
“I think that would be a huge step for me, it would be amazing, and I think it’s definitely possible to do that. I’ll see how I get on.”
Alongside winning silver, it was at the championships in Sheffield where she set a new 60m personal best of 7.51 seconds, the highlight of a whirlwind indoor season.
The achievement at a national stage also saw her invited to compete at the Keely Klassic, an event pioneered by 2024 Sports Personality of the Year winner Keely Hodgkinson.
Edwards now hopes that the quality of coaching available in the States will help her reach the next level as an athlete.
“I want to become as good as an athlete as possible out there, and I feel the sky is the limit, really,” she said.
“I think I’m definitely capable of putting some really good times down, but first I think I just need to get there, and see how I find it.
Over recent years, more and more British athletes have made the switch to the US collegiate system, and for many it has paid dividends.
Fellow sprinter Louie Hinchliffe made the switch from Lancaster University to Washington State University, where he spent one year before leaving the Pacific Northwest for the University of Houston.
At Houston, Hinchliffe would be coached by nine-time Olympic gold medallist Carl Lewis, and the pair would go on to win the 2024 NCAA Men’s 100m title.
A breakout 2024 season saw him reduce his PB to 9.95, breaking the 10-second barrier to become the sixth fastest Brit all-time, just missing out on a record-breaking Olympic final.
Amber Anning is another British athlete who has become one of the world’s best since taking her talents across the pond in 2020.
Anning won the NCAA 400m Indoor title in 2024, her final season at Arkansas, and broke Christine Ohuruogu’s British Record to come fifth in the Olympic final in Paris.
Edwards, who reached the 60m semi-final at this year’s senior UK Indoor Championships, is hoping to follow in their footsteps.
“Seeing their pathway they are definitely big role models for me because the opportunities out in the States are incredible.
“The training is amazing, and the athletes get treated like royalty. That’s something I couldn’t really see happening over here,” said Edwards.
“I think there is good support here, but not quite to the extent it is in the States. I just wanted to experience that, and it’s probably the best opportunity to see the most growth in myself.
“I want to make the best of myself and my ability, and this is probably the best thing to go for, especially seeing how everyone else that’s gone has done. It’s a no-brainer for me, really.”
