AMAZING CHALLENGERS
Former Hampton University track stars LaVonne Idlette and Kellie Wells-Brinkley are competing on the latest season of reality TV show “The Amazing Race.”
Kellie Wells-Brinkley and LaVonne Idlette were known for their competitive spirit on the track at Hampton University.
Now the former Olympians will show a national television audience what they’ve got when they compete this fall on the long running CBS reality show “The Amazing Race.”
“I am so proud and excited for Kellie and LaVonne,” said Hampton University track & field coach Maurice Pierce. “They both are great examples of the success and impact of the Hampton University women’s track and field program.”
The two will compete against 10 other teams for the $1 million prize. The new season of “The Amazing Race” is scheduled to premiere at 9 p.m. Oct. 14 on CBS.
The pair will start at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and travel to their first destination – Trinidad and Tobago. Along the route, teams will travel around the world, including France, Germany, Kazakhstan and Brazil. While most international travel is still shut down, this season of the CBS reality competition was actually filmed well before the coronavirus pandemic arose.
Wells-Brinkley, a 2006 Hampton University grad, won bronze in the 100 hurdles at the 2012 London Olympics when she ran a personal-best time of 12.48 seconds.
At Hampton, she earned All-American and All-MidEastern Athletic Conference honors. She won the 60 hurdles in 2006. She is the school record holder in the 60 (7.33), 55 hurdles (7.60) and 60 hurdles (8.08). She was inducted into the MEAC Hall of Fame in 2014.
Wells-Brinkley was the United States national champion in the 100 hurdles in 2011. She finished runner-up in 2010 and 2012.
Idlette, a 2007 Hampton University grad, earned All-MEAC honors in the 60 hurdles, 100 hurdles and pentathlon. She participated for the Dominican Republic in the 2012 London Olympics.