USA TRACK & FIELD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: WILLIAMS TAKES SECOND AT INDOORS EX-NCAA CHAMP READY FOR OUTDOORS.Byline: KIRBY LEE Special to the Daily News BOSTON -- Jesse Williams
He finished fourth at the 2002 World Junior Championships and eighth at the 2006 World Athletics Final. definitely has a place in professional track and field. The 2005 and 2006 NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association indoor and outdoor high-jump champion from USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. finished second at 7-6 in a jump-off with Tora Harris Tora Harris (born 21 September 1978) is an American high jumper. He won bronze medals at the 2001 Summer Universiade and the 2006 IAAF World Cup. His personal best jump is 2.33 metres, achieved in June 2006 in Indianapolis. during the USA Track & Field Indoor Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center at Roxbury Community College Roxbury Community College is a two-year community college in Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts. It offers associate degrees as well as a transfer program for students to earn credits for transfer to other colleges. to kick off his first full season on the open circuit. Finding a place to the stay in Boston didn't go as smoothly for Williams, who didn't have accommodations until a fellow competitor made a last-minute invitation to share his room. "I planned on something, and it backfired," Williams said. "I didn't know what to do, but it ended up working out. I am more prepared for the experiences." It was also a learning experience for Williams on Saturday after a miss on his opening height at 7 1/2. The miscue mis·cue n. 1. Games A stroke in billiards that misses or just brushes the ball because of a slip of the cue. 2. A mistake. intr.v. mis·cued, mis·cu·ing, mis·cues 1. prevented him from claiming his first USATF USATF United States of America Track and Field (governing body for T&F, Race Walking & Distance Running) title after Williams and Harris tied on misses after each cleared 7-6 on their third attempt. A jump-off ensued after both athletes missed all three attempts at 7-7 1/4. In the jump-off, Williams and Harris missed at 7-6 and 7-5 before Harris cleared 7-3 3/4 to claim his second indoor title in three years after Williams was unable to respond. Williams said he hopes things will be different in June for the USATF Outdoor Championships in Indianapolis, the qualifying meet for the IAAF IAAF abbr. International Amateur Athletic Federation World Championships in Osaka, Japan. For one thing, Williams has already made his hotel reservations. "I gave it my all but today, but by (June), I will have all my training together," Williams said. "I will have had a lot of meets. Everything will be there." Williams would have preferred to have gone to Europe to compete for preparation for the USATF Indoors, but he was unable to while attending classes at USC to complete his degree this semester. "A lot of people in Europe don't understand and asked, 'Why are you still jumping in college?'" Williams said. "Last year, it was so much fun. I loved the team atmosphere. Whatever I do, I don't regret." In other finals on Saturday, Amy Acuff, a three-time Olympian from UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX , won the women's high jump at 6-3 1/2. Lucais MacKay, a former state community college champion from Moorpark College, was ninth in the weight throw at 66-7. In qualifying, Hasani Roseby, formerly of UCLA, was a heat winner in the women's 60 in 7.27 to advance to today's semifinals, and UCLA sophomore Kevin Craddock placed fourth in his 60-meter hurdle heat in 7.82 to advance. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Jesse Williams finished second in the high jump Saturday at the USA Track & Field Indoor Championships at Roxbury Community College in Boston. Kirby Lee/Special to the Daily News (2) Amy Acuff, a three-time Olympian from UCLA, competes in the finals of the women's high jump. Acuff won the event at 6-3 1/2. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press |
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