Brown dazzles in Willie Williams Classic

Friday, March 22

Tucson, Ariz.

Grand Canyon

Willie Williams Classic

3/23/2024 5:35:00 PM | Track and Field

Elite group set to head for Texas Relays

By: Nathan Peters

TUCSON, Ariz. - The Grand Canyon track and field team closed the weekend with multiple Willie Williams Classic performances that are great to build on this early in the outdoor season.

"It was another great weekend of track and field," Lopes head coach Tom Flood said. "The weather conditions were more Arizona-like and our athletes took advantage of the favorable winds."

GCU junior Erin Brown came out Friday night and broke his school record in the 200-meter run with a time of 20.7 seconds. The mark ranks first in the WAC, and fifth in the west region. Brown also ran a smooth, WAC leading (8th in the west) 10.35 seconds in the 100m after a second leg in the 39.91 second 4x100 relay.

"The best thing about Erin's amazing weekend is that we are just getting started," Flood said.

The Lopes regained one of their best assets as a team this weekend with the return of thrower Israel Oloyede.

"It was awfully nice to see Israel compete after a two-year absence," Flood said. "He had a a good start throwing 69.85 meters in the hammer throw."

The graduate student returning mark takes the top spot in the conference and the third best in the west region. The Phoenix native sat out for two seasons due to a redshirt season and an injury.

Dawnielle Lewis had a nice double for an amazing weekend. The senior ran 24.00 seconds in the 200m dash on Friday to bulk her top sport in the conference. On Saturday, Lewis ran 11.65 seconds in the 100 for the number two time in the WAC.

"Ben Stratman had a great weekend," Flood said. "I had him run the 200 to get loose before he rocked his 400m time of 46.44."

The mark comes as the top spot in the conference and the fourth best time in the region.

"It was fun to see Daviciea run the 400m hurdles in a GCU uniform," Flood said. "He ran a nice easy 51.49 despite still being a little banged up after a magnificent WAC Indoor Championships."

Daviciea McCartney sat out last outdoor season due to transfer eligibility rules.

"Taryn Burkett continued her amazing season," Flood said. "I believe a 13-meter jump is in her near future."

Burkett would have broken the school record with her 12.81m mark if not for the illegal wind.

True freshman Zoë Rich had a really strong 800m, extending the conference lead with her time of 2 minutes 13.21 seconds.

"I believe we will continue to see big jumps for Zoë as this season goes on," Flood said.

Onome Ogbeni took the second-place spot in the conference shot put standings after a mark of 45.83m.

Germain Lemaitre had a nice double this weekend with a rare 1500- as well as his usual 800-meter.

JoJo Harding went 10.48 (100m) and 21.19 (200m) at the Willie Williams Classic.

"We will have a short week before leaving Wednesday to take a small, but very elite crew to the Texas Relays where we hope to take advantage of the very talented competition," Flood said.

Results from the Willie Williams Classic can be found here.