Maurice Gleaton Jr. is an American sprinter who has rapidly emerged as one of the country’s most promising young 100-meter athletes. Known for his explosive speed and versatility, Gleaton has already competed successfully against elite senior competition while still in his teenage years.

A native of South Fulton, Georgia, Gleaton attended Langston Hughes High School, where he excelled in both track and field and football as a wide receiver. His breakthrough came in 2023, when he won the 200 meters at the Nike Outdoor Nationals High School Championships and finished runner-up in the 100 meters. That season, he established American 10th-grade records of 10.14 seconds in the 100 meters and 20.52 seconds in the 200 meters.

In 2024, Gleaton won both the 100 and 200 meters at Nike Outdoor Nationals, further establishing himself as one of the nation’s top high school sprinters.

His senior season in 2025 marked a major breakthrough. Gleaton became the first athlete in Georgia high school history to break the 10-second barrier, running a wind-legal 9.98 seconds. The performance ranked among the fastest wind-legal 100-meter times in American high school history.

Gleaton then stepped onto the national stage, running 9.92 seconds to finish sixth in the 100-meter final at the 2025 USA Track & Field Championships. Earlier that summer, he had also recorded a wind-assisted 9.82 seconds while competing against established professionals.

His performances earned him selection to the U.S. team for the 2025 World Athletics Championships as part of the relay pool.

Gleaton began his collegiate career at the University of Georgia in 2026 while pursuing his ambitions in both track and field and football. His combination of elite sprinting ability, athletic versatility, and early experience against world-class competition makes him one of the most intriguing young athletes in American sport.