Williams Third After Day One Of Heptathlon

May 3, 2002

STORRS, CT (hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami freshman AmberWilliams (Succasunna, NJ) won the 100-meter hurdles and 200-meters and isthird-place after the first day of competition in the heptathlon at the BIGEAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Storrs, CT.

Williams, who finished second in the pentathlon at the BIG EAST IndoorChampionships earlier this season, recorded 3007 points during day one andtrails Bridgett Ingram (Seton Hall) by only 119 points heading intoSaturday’s final three events. Ingram posted 3,126 points on Friday. TamaraMcGill of Pittsburgh is in second with 3016 points.

“The weather conditions made things very difficult today,” said headcoach Amy Deem. “But too her credit she competed hard and finished strong inthe 200-meters.”

Despite gusting winds and cold temperatures, Williams, the UM recordholder in the heptathlon, opened the competition with a win in the100-hurdles (14.35) garnering 929 points. She picked up another 480 points inshot put with a throw of 9.25 meters (30-04.25) and then 712 points with amark of 1.58 meters (5-02.25) in the high jump. Williams concluded the firstday with a first-place finish in the 200-meters with a personal-best time of25.01, good for 886 points.

Competition in the heptathlon will conclude Saturday with the long jump,javelin and 800-meters.

“Amber is one of the better long jumpers in the field,” said UMmulti-event coach Jim VanHootegem. “If she jumps the way she is capable of,and throws well enough in the javelin to stay close to the leaders, it shouldall come down to the 800-meters.”