· 60-meter dash results
· Triple jump results
Senior Teddy Williams raced to a program-record fourth-place finish in the 60 meters on Saturday (photo by Beth Hall).
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Senior Teddy Williams raced to a fourth-place finish in Saturday night’s 60-meter dash final at the NCAA Indoor Championships and the Tyler native posted the best national finish by any athlete in UTSA men’s track & field history.
Williams, now a three-time All-American, crossed the tape in 6.65 — the same time he clocked in Friday’s second preliminary heat — and he finished behind Florida’s Jeff Demps (6.57), Texas A&M’s Gerald Phiri (6.60) and Auburn’s Marcus Rowland (6.61).
“I came into this meet with high expectations, and I’m pretty sure everyone else did too, but I fought hard and know I gave it my all,” Williams said after the race. “My preparation tonight was 10 times better than it was last night. Coach Burnett and I really worked on my drive phase and I thought my first 30 meters were the key to my race. I did better than last year and think I got a piece of redemption, but I will never be content with anything but winning. I’m going to continue to work hard to improve, because that‘s the thing about track, you can always get better.”
Rounding out the field of eight was Kentucky’s Rondel Sorillo (6.659), Florida’s Jeremy Hall (6.66), Florida State’s Maurice Mitchell (6.67) and Mississippi’s Michael Granger (6.74).
“I'm very happy for Teddy,” head coach Aaron Fox said. “I know he wanted to win, but this is the best he’s ever finished at this meet and it was the best finish by any athlete in school history, so he‘s got to be really happy about that. He got through this meet without getting injured and we're going to see more special things from him during the outdoor season.”
Tonight’s race put an end to arguably the best indoor career in UTSA history.
Williams joined Leonard Byrd and Justin Youngblood as the only three-time All-Americans in program annals and his two indoor certificates are a school record. He owns the Southland Conference’s 60m record (6.59) and also holds the Roadrunners’ standard in the 55m (6.23). The 2009-10 Southland Athlete of the Year won a total of five gold medals at the conference level, including three consecutive triumphs in the 60m.
Fox took a minute to reflect on what his prized sprinter had accomplished in his four seasons.
“I took a chance on him and here he is getting fourth place at nationals,” he said. “I guess the gamble paid off. I‘ve been very fortunate to have him in our program and I‘m so proud of him right now.”
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| Junior Devon Bond competed in his first-ever NCAA Championship event on Saturday. |
Williams’ finish secured five points for the Roadrunners and they ended up tied for 35th place in the team standings, which was easily the top placing in program history (previous best: 48th/2005). In fact, UTSA was ahead of three teams ranked in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's Top 25 Poll (#20 Stanford, #23 Kentucky, #24 Texas). Florida won the team title with 57 points, while Oregon and Texas A&M tied for second with 44 apiece.
Meanwhile, junior Devon Bond skipped to a 49-3 ¾ (15.03m) measurement (15th place) in the triple jump but did not advance to the final. However, he finished his first indoor season at UTSA as the Southland Newcomer of the Year and the league’s title-holder in the event to go along with a silver medal in the high jump.
The Birds are back in action in two weeks when they travel to Houston for the Victor Lopez Invitational.