Charity Hufnagel Added to Louisville Track & Field Staff as Program Volunteer
October 11, 2025 | Track & Field
The 2024 United States Olympic Trials champion in the women’s high jump will join the Cardinals’ staff for the 2025-26 season while continuing to train for professional competition.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Charity Hufnagel, the 2024 United States outdoor champion in the women's high jump, will join the University of Louisville track & field staff as a program volunteer for the 2025-26 season, as announced by Director of Track & Field Cross Country Joe Franklin.
Over the last three seasons, Hufnagel has established herself as one of the top American high jumpers, capturing both an NCAA title and a United States national title in the event while also earning a World Championships qualification.
In her new role, Hufnagel will work primarily with the Louisville combined events group while continuing to train for professional competition under Assistant Coach Wyatt Rhoads.
"I am so incredibly excited to join the Louisville Track & Field staff and to continue my training here as well," said Hufnagel. "The track program has such a great atmosphere that I'm blessed to be a part of. I can't wait to grow more as an athlete with such a great staff and team."
After a successful collegiate career at Ball State and Kentucky, Hufnagel began her post collegiate career with a bang, winning the national title in the women's high jump at the 2024 USATF Olympic Trials with a personal-best clearance of 1.94m (6-4.25).
She continued to build off that positive momentum through her first full season in the professional ranks, finishing as the national runner-up at the 2025 USATF Indoor Championships to clinch a spot on Team USA for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, where she placed fifth. Later in the year, she earned a fourth-place finish at the USATF Outdoor Championships to narrowly miss out on another World Championships appearance.
A native of Rushville, Ind., Hufnagel competed collegiately at Ball State for four seasons from 2019-2023 before spending her final collegiate season at Kentucky.
During her time with the Cardinals, she was crowned the 2023 NCAA outdoor champion in the high jump, earned six All-American nods (four in the high jump and two in the pentathlon), and won six individual Mid-American Conference titles. She also currently holds the Ball State records in both the indoor and outdoor high jump while ranking second in program history in the indoor pentathlon and outdoor heptathlon.
Hufnagel continued to find success in the SEC after transferring to Kentucky, garnering All-American distinction four more times, including a seventh-place showing in the heptathlon at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Despite only spending a year in Lexington, she established new program records in the outdoor high jump and heptathlon while moving to No. 2 in the Wildcat record books in the indoor high jump and pentathlon.
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and X account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
Over the last three seasons, Hufnagel has established herself as one of the top American high jumpers, capturing both an NCAA title and a United States national title in the event while also earning a World Championships qualification.
In her new role, Hufnagel will work primarily with the Louisville combined events group while continuing to train for professional competition under Assistant Coach Wyatt Rhoads.
"I am so incredibly excited to join the Louisville Track & Field staff and to continue my training here as well," said Hufnagel. "The track program has such a great atmosphere that I'm blessed to be a part of. I can't wait to grow more as an athlete with such a great staff and team."
After a successful collegiate career at Ball State and Kentucky, Hufnagel began her post collegiate career with a bang, winning the national title in the women's high jump at the 2024 USATF Olympic Trials with a personal-best clearance of 1.94m (6-4.25).
She continued to build off that positive momentum through her first full season in the professional ranks, finishing as the national runner-up at the 2025 USATF Indoor Championships to clinch a spot on Team USA for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, where she placed fifth. Later in the year, she earned a fourth-place finish at the USATF Outdoor Championships to narrowly miss out on another World Championships appearance.
A native of Rushville, Ind., Hufnagel competed collegiately at Ball State for four seasons from 2019-2023 before spending her final collegiate season at Kentucky.
During her time with the Cardinals, she was crowned the 2023 NCAA outdoor champion in the high jump, earned six All-American nods (four in the high jump and two in the pentathlon), and won six individual Mid-American Conference titles. She also currently holds the Ball State records in both the indoor and outdoor high jump while ranking second in program history in the indoor pentathlon and outdoor heptathlon.
Hufnagel continued to find success in the SEC after transferring to Kentucky, garnering All-American distinction four more times, including a seventh-place showing in the heptathlon at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Despite only spending a year in Lexington, she established new program records in the outdoor high jump and heptathlon while moving to No. 2 in the Wildcat record books in the indoor high jump and pentathlon.
For the latest information on Louisville Cross Country/Track & Field, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's Instagram and X account at @louisvilletfxc or on Facebook at facebook.com/LouisvilleTFXC.
TFXC: Just Jayden
Wednesday, July 30
TFXC: The Last Jump
Monday, July 14
Joe Franklin Press Conference 02.26.25
Friday, May 16
2024 Track & Field and Cross Country Media Day
Monday, February 26
