EUGENE, Ore. – Shaquille Walker set another school record in the 800-meter semifinals at the USATF Championships over the weekend and placed sixth overall a day later in the finals.
"It was an amazing experience and a great way to start bringing this year's season to a close," Walker said. "I'm beyond grateful for the coaches, friends, family and staff that I had supporting me and I am excited for the future."
Walker’s time was 1:45.58, besting his own school record time set earlier this season of 1:45.78. Competing against mostly professionals in the finals, Walker’s time of 1:46.60 was good for sixth place and was second among all collegiate athletes.
The top three finishers in each event move on to represent the United States at the World Championships, the NACAC Championships and the Pan-American Games later this summer. After placing sixth, Walker will be an alternate for Team USA for those meets.
Former BYU track athletes Jason Witt, Jared Ward and Victor Weirich also competed at the championships. Fresh off first-team All-America honors, Witt ran in the 10,000 meters and placed 12th with a time of 28:49.43. Ward also ran the 10,000 meters and finished in 29:05.70 for 15th place. Weirich particpated in the pole vault and came in eighth place vaulting 5.50 meters (18-00.50).
Complete results to the USATF Championships can be found on the official USATF website.
A link to a video of Walker’s record-setting semifinal heat can also be viewed at USATF’s website.
A link to a video of the finals where Walker placed sixth can be seen here.
Interviews after each 800-meter race can be viewed courtesy of flotrack.org below: