| Junior Teddy Williams peeled off a pair of conference records in the 60-meter dash on Friday. |
NEW YORK, N.Y. ? Junior All-American Teddy Williams added a couple more lines to his already-lengthy list of accomplishments as a Roadrunner, as he broke the Southland Conference's 60-meter dash record for the second year in a row at Friday's New Balance Invitational.
Williams blistered the historic 168th Street Armory track in 6.61 in a runner-up finish in the 60-meter dash championship final. The Tyler native finished second only to national leader Trindon Holliday of LSU, who crossed the tape in 6.56. The mark stands as the fourth-fastest nationally this winter and automatically qualifies him for next month's NCAA Championships in College Station. He advanced to the evening final with thesecond-quickest preliminary time of the afternoon, breaking his previous league record with his 6.65 clocking. Williams easily won his heat and finished runner up onlyto Holliday, who peeled off a 6.63 in his section. It was a little more than a year ago that he originally established a new SLC mark with his 6.66 performance at the season-opening Houston Opener.
"Coach (Aaron) Fox and I talked about making a statement before I left and, when I got off the plane yesterday, I just knew it was going to be my weekend," Williams said after his performance. "I came to win, not to get a mark. I treated both races like nationals because there were so many great runners in the field. I didn't get the start I wanted in either race, but I was really coming at the end of the final. Holliday is a great competitor and I can't wait to face him again. I just need to work on a few things the next couple weeks and I'll be ready to roll at conference and nationals."
"This was a very good start for Teddy as we enter the championship part of our indoor schedule," seventh-year head coach Aaron Fox said after the race. "His start was a little off, but his acceleration phase was really good. I know he has a lot more to offer, but he beat a lot of great guys in tonight's field and finished second to the national leader. This is just a preview of what's to come from him this season."
Senior Will Vese was the other Roadrunner to compete in an evening final. The Houston native placed seventh in the 60m hurdles in a time of 7.94. He qualified after racing to a 7.95 in finishing second to Syracuse's Jarret Eaton (7.89) in the afternoon's second preliminary heat. It was the sixth-fastest mark of the prelims.
Junior Johnathan Whittaker brought home gold in the high jump (college division). Whittaker cleared the bar at 6-9 3/4 (2.08m) to pick up his first collegiate title and third consecutive top-three finish to open the year.
Meanwhile, senior Gaston Griffin posted the fastest time in the SLC this season when he clocked a 48.12 in the seventh 400m preliminary heat. The San Antonio native just missed qualifying for Saturday's final, placing 16th in the 143-man field. The final spot went to Coppin State's Carlinton Morgan, who registered a 48.01. It was Griffin's fastest time since he recorded a 47.53 at the 2007 Arkansas Last Chance qualifier.
On the women's side, junior Jessica Jones skimmed the 100m hurdles in a personal-record 8.66, the second-fastest time in the league this winter, in winning the afternoon's 10th preliminary heat. The Fresno native finished 22nd overall but did not advance to the final. Meanwhile, sophomore Shavonne Armbrister finished second in her 400m heat, crossing the tape in a season-best 58.77.
UTSA continues its weekend action on Saturday when 15 athletes (11 men/four women) travel to the Bayou City for the Houston All-Comers meet at Bill Yeoman Fieldhouse.