Williams Earns 200m Gold to Close SEC Indoors

Sunday, February 25

College Station, Texas / Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium

University of Tennessee

SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships

February 25, 2018 | Track & Field

Complete Results

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Junior Mustaqeem Williams captured the 200-meter title to highlight the Vols' performance Sunday to end the 2018 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Williams won the first heat of the 200m in a personal-best 20.55, then had to wait for the results of the second heat before celebrating his first SEC title. Arkansas' Kenzo Cotton won the second heat in 20.61 to take silver.

The championship wrapped up a strong day for Williams, who also placed fifth in the 60m (6.67). Junior Kwantreyl McConico was the first to join Williams in championship celebration, having also been in the 200m final with a seventh-place finish (21.11).

Led by Williams' gold, the Vols earned four medals during Sunday's evening session.

Senior Nathan Strother took silver in the 400 meters (45.59) to lead off scoring for the Vols. He was second in the second heat, which was good for silver overall.

After a fourth-place finish in shot put Saturday, junior Stamatia Scarvelis followed with bronze in the weight throw with a mark of 21.20 meters (69 feet, 6.75 inches) on her first attempt.

Tennessee closed the night with a silver medal as the team of Brooklyn Broadwater, Shania Collins, Lenysse Dyer and Felecia Majors took second in the 4x400m relay in 3:31.48.

In the final team standings, the Tennessee men took seventh with 44 points and Alabama won with 91. The UT women were 11th overall with 21 points; Arkansas won the title with 108.

After placing sixth in the 3000m the night before, junior Zach Long was just off the medal stand in the 5000m in fourth place (13:56.12). Andre Hillsman also scored a point with an eighth-place finish (14:29.59).

Freshman Jordan West scored his first points at an SEC meet, taking fifth in the shot put with a mark of 18.92m (62-1). Sophomore Joseph Maxwell was eighth (18.19m; 59-8.25).

Junior Lenysse Dyer added a point for the Tennessee women with an eighth-place finish of 53.89 in the 400m. Junior Savannah Marlow also scored an eighth-place finish in the weight throw (18.14m, 59-6.25).

Tristan Slater also placed seventh in the pole vault competition (5.10m, 16-8.75).

Fast Fact: The Vols have now won 14 SEC titles during the Beth Alford-Sullivan coaching era on Rocky Top ... Williams' 200m time of 20.55 ranks fifth in program history.

QUOTES
Beth Alford-Sullivan, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country
(On momentum of meet)
"The one thing I always want is for us to have great relays. We had great relays this weekend. I'll never let that down on Tennessee. The women came through in shining colors with that second-place finish. The guys gave a great effort on it. In this conference, no matter what, anything can happen. We put together some unbelievable stuff today. We were really able to play today, especially on the men's side. We're starting to taste it and know that it's possible. We reached a little bit deeper and found some things we didn't know we had. I was really proud of our squads today. We are not at all satisfied, but we're pleased with the efforts that were put forward at this level on this day. We'll carry that momentum into the NCAA championships, but most importantly, as a team, we're going to carry that team culture into that SEC championship at our place in May."

(On standout performances of meet)
"Nathan Strother ran brilliant tactically in that 400 and giving it a great run. He's looking like he's on top form for two weeks from now. Then Mustaqeem Williams, someone who's had some inconsistencies in his career but came in with one mission: to do this for his team. He pulls off a great 60 and comes back and runs one of the fastest times in the country in the 200. They found the rhythm of what it is. That's what we're looking for for all our athletes.

I think you saw some great stuff out of the young guys. You've got Jordan West and Joe Maxwell and Georgios in the throws. You've got young guys all the way around the blocks. You can't go on without mentioning Zach Long and his efforts for the program this weekend, running the 3K, scoring great, and coming back scoring great in the 5K with a PB for him in an indoor 5K, then running a leg on that DMR to give us every chance that we could do. Then you see Andre Hillsman, after four years, one of his first SEC championships he's been at and squeaks out a point here and there. Those are the kinds of challenges we're looking for. Fe May (Felecia Majors), after a disappointing yesterday, splits 52 on the relay. That's the kind of tenacity that Vols have to be made of. I'm pleased, but we're not satisfied. We know we've got a long way to go to get to the top of the podium, but we're making steps and I was pleased to see us compete this weekend."

2018 SEC INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
TENNESSEE RESULTS (SUNDAY)
All Events Final

WOMEN
Track Events
400m: 8. Lenysse Dyer, 53.89.

5000m: 18. Megan Murray, 17.23.53.

4x400 Relay: Broadwater, Collins, Dyer, Majors, 3:31.48.

Field Events
Weight Throw: 3. Stamatia Scarvelis, 21.20m (69-6.75); 8. Savannah Marlow, 18.14m (59-6.25).

Triple Jump: 13. LaChyna Roe, 12.45m (40-10.25); Cidae'a Woods, 12.24m (40-2).

High Jump: 11. Cidae'a Woods, 1.70m (5-7); 14. Domonique Turner, 1.70m (5-7).

MEN
Track Events
60m: 5. Mustaqeem Williams, 6.67.

400m: 2. Nathan Strother, 45.59.

5000m: 4. Zach Long, 13:56.12; 8. Andre Hillsman, 14:29.59; 16. Nick Brey, 14:43.67.

200m: 1. Mustaqeem Williams, 20.55; 7. Kwantreyl McConico, 21.11

Distance Medley Relay: 9. Crigger, Elion, Cousino, Long, 9:55.63.

4x400 Relay: 5. Williams, McConico, Harris, Strother, 3:06.49.

Field Events
Pole Vault: 7. Tristan Slater, 5.10m (16-8.75), 15. Nate Harper, 4.80m (15-9)

Triple Jump: 12. Jalen Tate, 14.63m (48-0)

Shot Put: 5. Jordan West, 18.92m (62-1); 8. Joseph Maxwell, 18.19m (59.8.25).