Feb. 5, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue's Hence "Pooh" Williams of the men's track and field team was named the Big Ten Athlete of the Week, announced the Big Ten Conference office on Tuesday.
Williams received the award for his pole vault performance on Jan. 31 against Indiana State. Helping the No. 18 Boilermakers to victory over the Sycamores, Williams easily won the pole vault. He recorded a four-inch lifetime-best and an NCAA provisional mark of 5.36m (17' 7"). On www.trackshark.com, Williams also is listed as the No. 5-ranked men's pole vaulter in the nation.
"This award is such a great individual accomplishment for Pooh," said Purdue head track and field coach Lissa Olson. "He has worked so hard and it's really great to see that everything he's set out to accomplish is coming together his senior year. It's always rewarding for a student-athlete to end their career on a high note and with the season that Pooh is having thus far, we know that he'll accomplish everything that he sets out to do.
"This honor is also especially rewarding not only for Pooh, but also for our program, because I know that the Big Ten does not usually give the same team the Athlete of the Week for two weeks in a row. With Kenny (Baxter) winning last week, I think it says a lot for our program to have two winners, two weeks in a row.
Williams and select Boilermakers will return to the oval this weekend at the Indiana Invitational on Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8, in Bloomington. Meet time is 4 p.m. and noon.
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