# Johnny Brackins

Johnny Brackins Jr. (born 29 July 2003) is an American long jumper and hurdler and the 2024 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winner in the long jump. Brackins was a former U.S. U20 champion in the long jump and bronze medallist in the 4 × 100 m at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships. Representing the USC Trojans, Brackins also finished runner-up in the 60 meter hurdles at the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.

## Career

Competing for Lee's Summit High School, Brackins was a two-time Missouri State High School Activities Association champion in the long jump and a finalist in the long and triple jump at the 2019 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships. Brackins signed a letter of intent to compete for the University of Southern California out of high school, but he actually joined the Baylor Bears track and field team for one year instead, where he qualified for both the indoor and outdoor long jump NCAA championships placing 7th and 17th respectively.
After winning the long jump at the 2022 USA U20 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Brackins qualified to represent the U.S. at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in both the long jump and 4 × 100 m relay. Entering the long jump with the world's leading U20 mark, Brackins placed 6th with a 7.81 m leap. Later in the 4 × 100 m, Brackins led off the U.S. team in the heats and anchored for them in the finals to win the bronze medal behind Japan and Jamaica.
Following the 2022 season, Brackins transferred to the USC Trojans track and field program, improving his long jump finish to 5th at the 2023 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships. In his first senior national final at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Brackins finished 14th in the long jump.
During the run-up to the 2024 Olympics, Brackins won his first national title at the 2024 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships and was qualified to represent the U.S. at the World Indoor Championships long jump, but he chose not to enter. Though Brackins only finished 4th in the long jump at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships, he improved to 2nd in the 60 m hurdles.
Outdoors, Brackins qualified for 110 m hurdles and long jump finals at the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, finishing 4th again and 9th respectively. He entered in the long jump at the 2024 United States Olympic trials, and led all qualifiers going in to the finals. With only top three athletes in the finals guaranteed selection to the U.S. Olympic team, Brackins jumped 8.17 m and finished 4th.

## Personal life

Brackins was born on 29 July 2003 and grew up in Lee's Summit, Missouri, a suburb of the Kansas City metropolitan area. His father Johnny Brackins Sr. was a collegiate athlete that had competed at the United States Olympic trials in the past.
After graduating from Lee's Summit High School, Brackins spent one year at Baylor University before transferring to the University of Southern California.
Brackins took interest in business architecture and sought to become a medical lawyer after his athletic career ended.

## Statistics
### Personal best progression

Long Jump progression :
| # | Mark | Pl. | Competition | Venue | Date |
| 1 | 7.20 m (−0.2 m/s) | | Great Southwest Classic | Albuquerque, NM | 7 Jun 2019 |
| 2 | 7.35 m sh | | Mizzou HS Series Meet #2 | Columbia, MO | 8 Feb 2020 |
| 3 | 7.48 m sh | | Mizzou HS Series Championships | Columbia, MO | 22 Feb 2020 |
| 4 | 7.78 m sh | | Larry Wieczorek Invitational | Iowa City, IA | 21 Jan 2022 |
| 5 | 7.82 m sh | | Rod McCravy Memorial Track & Field Meet | Lexington, KY | 27 Jan 2022 |
| 6 | 8.06 m (+0.9 m/s) | | Big 12 Championships | Lubbock, TX | 13 May 2022 |
| 7 | 8.16 m sh | 5th | NCAA Indoor Championships | Albuquerque, NM | 9 Mar 2023 |
| 8 | 8.23 m sh | | USA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Albuquerque, NM | 16 Feb 2024 |