University of Tennessee Athletics
Track Achievements Not Above Law
June 11, 2009 | Women's Track
June 11, 2009
By Mike Blackerby, News Sentinel
Athletics, not academics was Celriece Law's biggest hurdle when she came to the University of Tennessee as a track and field walk-on fresh out of Denver's Montbello High School in 2005.
She'll finish up at Tennessee on top of her game in both disciplines.
When Law concludes her track and field duties this week in the NCAA Women's Outdoor Championships at Fayetteville, Ark., she'll leave UT as a five-time All-American.
This summer she plans on wrapping up work on her master's degree in sports psychology with designs on law school down the road.
Law admits the transition from high school to collegiate track and field didn't come easy.
"I was a typical freshman," said Law, who actually came to UT on an academic scholarship.
"I wasn't really at the level of the other athletes. In high school I had never lifted weights and didn't have a lot of strength or speed. In high school I didn't love to run -- I liked basketball more."
Lady Vols coach J.J. Clark said Law's early struggles on the track were typical of many freshmen.
"Celriece had a hard transition coming to UT from Colorado and a different environment, but we stuck with her," said Clark.
"It took her that first year to realize what she wanted. She loved basketball, but she realized she's better in track."
Clark said the redshirt year did wonders for Law.
"I saw a change in her attitude and behavior," he said. "After her redshirt year I saw a maturing work ethic and then her talent took over. I knew we had something special."
Indeed.
Law, who will compete for NCAA titles this week in the 100-meter hurdles and the 400 relay, leaves an impressive legacy at UT.
In the recent NCAA Mideast Regional, she ran a career-best 13.14 seconds in the hurdles, placing second.
Law was the 2009 NCAA Indoor runner-up in the 60 hurdles with a school-record 8.04.
She is a two-time SEC champion in 2009 in the 60 hurdles (indoor) and 100 hurdles (outdoor).
Law ranks with former UT Olympic medalists Benita Fitzgerald and LaVonna Martin as the best hurdlers in Lady Vols history.
"I never thought in a million years I'd be at this level -- it's just an honor," said Law, who didn't compete in the hurdles until her junior year in high school.
"My success is a combination of my coaches, the support of my teammates and my family and friends pushing me ... and of course, hard work and determination. Even at the beginning of this year I never thought I'd be where I am now."
Clark said that Law deserves everything coming her way.
"It's good to see her hard work pay off," he said. "She walked on to our team and became a champion. Now, she's a champion both on and off the track."
Mike Blackerby is a freelance contributor.
