Williams, Myrick Reach NCAA 100-Meter Finals

May 31, 2002

Baton Rouge, LA (hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami freshman Lauryn Williams (Rochester, PA) and senior Wyllesheia Myrick (Miami Northwestern) both advanced to Saturday’s 100-meter final at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Baton Rouge, LA.

Miami, which has had 15 athletes earn a combined 39 All-America honors since 1992, has never had an All-American in the 100-meters. Myrick and Williams can change that fact with top-8 finishes on Saturday.

Myrick, who has struggled with an abdominal strain all season, reaches the NCAA final despite being one of the final two athletes selected to the 21-person field. Myrick qualified for the NCAA Championships with the nation’s 20th best time.

“After all I’ve been through this year this is very, very special,” said Myrick. “To come here with the 20th best time and to reach the finals is exciting, especially since I’m a senior and this is my final NCAA Championship.”

Williams, who earned All-America honors in the 60-meters at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships earlier this season, finished third in her semifinal heat with a time of 11.48 to move on to the 100-meter final in her first NCAA Outdoor Championship.

In the semifinals of the 100-meter hurdles, junior Sharriane Lawson (Palm Beach Lakes) finished seventh in her heat with a time of 13.50 and did not qualify for the finals.

The Hurricanes are in very good shape heading into the final day of competition. In addition to Williams and Myrick, Miami will also have the 4×400-meter relay competing in the finals, as well as Kareen Clarke (Lithonia, GA) in the championship of the triple jump. Clarke, ranked second in the nation in the event, is one of the favorites to win the national title.

Saturday's Women's Competition (All times Central):6:30 PM  Triple Jump (Clarke)7:50 PM  100-Meter Finals (Williams, Myrick)9:35 PM  4x400-Meter Relay (Whittaker, Wade, Winston, Carter)