University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Devers, Godina Inducted Into USTFCCCA Hall of Fame
February 24, 2026 | Track & Field
NEW ORLEANSย โ UCLA alums Gail Devers and John Godina have both been named part of the 12-member Collegiate Track & Field/Cross Country Athlete Hall of Fame, it was announced Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Devers, Godina, and the 10 other inductees will be enshrined on Sunday, June 7 at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, Ore. The ceremony will be held three days ahead of the start of the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field on the campus of Oregon.
Devers and Godina are set to become the fourth and fifth Bruins enshrined in the USTFCCCA Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame. Jackie Joyner-Kersee was a member of the inaugural class in 2022, followed by Seilala Sua in 2023, and Amy Acuff in 2025.
Devers was a 13-time All-American at UCLA from 1985-88, winning nine Pac-10 titles over six different events (100m, 200m, 100mH, 4x100, 4x400, long jump). During her senior season in 1988, Devers led the Bruins to a runner-up NCAA Outdoor finish by placing first in the 100m (10.86w), second in the long jump (21-6) and running on both of UCLA's relays (4x100m, second-place, 43.74; 4x400m, first-place, 3:29.82). As of 2026, she still holds UCLA school records in the 100m (10.97) and 100m hurdles (12.61).
Devers is a five-time Olympian, competing in consecutive Olympic Games from 1988-2004. She won back-to-back gold medals in the 100m in 1992 and 1996 and also captured gold in the 4x100m relay in 1996.
In addition, Devers was a 13-time World outdoor and indoor medalist, winning five World Outdoor titles (1993 - 100m/100m hurdles, 1995 - 100m hurdles, 1997 - 4x100m relay, 1999 - 100m hurdles) and four World Indoor crowns (1993 - 60m, 1997 - 60m, 2003 - 60m hurdles, 2004 - 60m). She won the USA Outdoor 100m hurdles title 10 times and the Olympic Trials 100m hurdles title three times.
In 1990, Devers was diagnosed with Graves Disease, a thyroid disorder, and doctors feared they might have to amputate her feet. Following radioactive iodine treatment and thyroid hormone replacement therapy, she recovered and won a silver medal in the 100m hurdles at the 1991 World Championships.
The nod from the USTFCCCA is the latest in a long run of honors for Devers. In 1999, Devers was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame and received the USATF's Humanitarian Athlete of the Year award. She was enshrined into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2011, followed by the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame a year later. Devers was a recipient of the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in 2013.
Godina was a record-breaking thrower for the Bruins from 1992-95, winning five NCAA and six Pac-10 titles in the shot put and discus. As of 2026, he still holds the NCAA record in the shot put (22.00m / 72-2.25), and also owns the No. 2 mark in the discus (64.92m / 213-0) in UCLA history. The 11-time All-American was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
After winning both the shot put and discus at the NCAA's in 1995, Godina won the first of three outdoor World Championship titles in the shot put (1995, 1997, 2001). He also captured the 2001 Indoor World Championship. Godina won four U.S. titles (1998, 1999, 2001, 2003) in the shot put and two in the discus (1997, 1998). By winning the shot put and discus at the 1998 U.S. Championships, he became the first athlete since Parry O'Brien in 1955 to win both events.
Godina also enjoyed success on the Olympic stage. As a three-time Olympian, he won the silver medal in 1996 and the bronze medal in 2000. On two occasions, he was the recipient of the Jesse Owens Award, given to the Outstanding U.S. Male Track and Field Performer.
The rest of the 2026 class includes Earl Bell (Arkansas State), John Carlos (San Jose State), Paul Ereng (Virginia), Carol Lewis (Houston), Earl McCullouch (USC), Dave Patrick (Villanova), Candice Scott (Florida), Dawn Sowell (LSU), Delisa Walton (Tennessee), and Leann Warren (Oregon).
The Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame was established in 2022 to honor the best of the best in collegiate track & field and cross country. The Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements of athletes who have left a lasting mark on the sport during their time in college.
