May 2, 2005 -- The United States Track Coaches Association announced that
Nick Willis of Michigan and Tiffany Ross-Williams of South Carolina have
been selected as the Athletes of the Week for NCAA Division I track & field.
Nick Willis of Michigan :
Michigan junior Nick Willis (Lower Hutt, New Zealand) had one of the more
outstanding performances at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
over the weekend. Willis helped lead Michigan to accomplish the distance
relay sweep with wins in the distance medley, 4xMile and 4x800 meter relays.
On Friday, April 29, the Wolverine squad consisting of Nate Brannen, Stann
Waithe, Andrew Ellerton and Willis won the distance medley relay in a time
of 9:22.57 to set a new school outdoor record. On Saturday, April 30, the
Wolverines broke the collegiate 4xMile record with their time of 16:04.54
behind the foursome of Ellerton, Mike Woods, Willis and Brannen. Ellerton,
Willis and Brannen joined Rondell Ruff to claim the 4x800 meter relay title
just three hours later in 7:22.59. Overall, Willis had splits of 3:55.1
(DMR), 3:56.2 (4xMile) and 1:48.6 (4x800m) over two days of competition.
Willis and the Wolverines will host the annual Len Paddock Invitational on
Friday and Saturday, May 6-7, at Ferry Field.
Tiffany Ross-Williams :
South Carolina junior Tiffany Ross-Williams (Miami, Florida) left the Penn
Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with one individual title, two relay
wins and a second place finish over the three days of competition.
Ross-Williams started her events on Thursday, April 28 by winning the 400
meter hurdles with the second-fastest time in Penn Relay history at 55.70
seconds. Ross-Williams then joined Chiquita Martin, Ronnetta Alexander and
Shevon Stoddart on Friday, April 29 to claim the shuttle hurdle relay in
53.19. On Saturday, April 30, Ross-Williams finished second in the 100 meter
hurdles championship with a time of 13.07. The Gamecocks capped off the day
by winning the 4x400 meter relay as Shevon Stoddart, Natasha Hastings,
Ross-Williams and Stephanie Smith clocked 3:28.00, the second-fastest time
in Penn Relays history. Ross-Williams and the Gamecocks will head to
Clemson, South Carolina on Saturday, May 7 for the Orange and Purple
Classic.
For more information on the United States Track Coaches Association, visit
their website at www.ustrackcoaches.org.
--
Tom Borish
Webmaster - www.trackshark.com
USTCA Publicist - www.ustrackcoaches.org
Email - [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Phone - 508-981-2864
