Milam Wraps Up Stellar Career with Top 20 Finish
5/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
AUSTIN, Texas - Willie Milam completed an amazing career at Gonzaga with a 17th place finish in the men's 5,000 meters at the NCAA West Preliminary Track and Field Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium Saturday.
Milam, the GU program record holder in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, crossed the line at 14:15.05. He was eighth in his heat, and just three seconds shy of advancing to the national championships. Portland's William Kincaid had the top time at 13:48.27. The top nine times came from the second heat. Edward Cheserek of Oregon won the first heat at 14:11.66.
"Willie ran a near perfect race," Director of Gonzaga Track Pat Tyson said. "He nearly pulled off a ticket to Eugene. Willie battled with the 24 entries in a slow tactical first heat. With four laps to go the pace gradually built up. He made every move the front runners made. At the bell, Willie was with the last dozen and made a major move at the beginning of the back stretch. With 200 to go, a Colorado runner accidentally tripped up Willie and he nearly went down. At that point, the lead seven had the momentum.
"It was nearly a brilliant race and a tough way to end his stellar career as a Gonzaga runner! In the end, he beat some very good 5K specialists. Like Andy Phillips the other night, Willie will greatly be missed! He raised the bar to a new level for our program! I am so proud of him. He will be a Zag forever!"
Milam returned to the 5,000-meter field at the NCAA West Preliminaries. Last season in Fayetteville, Ark., he had the previous best NCAA all-time finish of any Zag in 18th place. At the Stanford Invitational, the Portland, Ore. native broke the program record with a time of 13:53.74, which was seeded 26th in Austin. He had the 13th fastest time in his heat.
In the women's 5,000 meters, Maggie Jones wrapped up a stellar junior season with a 36th place finish. Her time of 17:07.89 was 19th in the second heat. She entered with the 39th-fastest time in the region, and was 20th in her heat. Jones ran the third fastest time in GU history, 16:27.86, at the Oregon Relays on April 17.
"Maggie went for it and the cooler weather led to aggressive racing," GU Women's Head Coach Patty Ley said. "It's just too hot a pace for her right now and she felt it in the second half. She learned so much and will grow immensely from this experience. She will put it together in the future. She has had a great year!"
Arkansas' Dominique Scott had the best time Saturday, 15:50.07. The top six times, along with the two at-large qualifying times, came in the second heat.
Shelby Mills became the first student-athlete in Gonzaga history to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships Friday. She placed 10th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The sophomore broke her own school record with a time of 10:11.37. She will run in the semifinals at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., on June 11 at 4:38 p.m.
Gonzaga's NCAA West Preliminary ResultsThursday
Men's 1,500 meters first round: Andy Phillips (3:50.40, 25th)
Women's 10,000 meters semifinals: Jessica Mildes (36:54.57, 39th)
Friday
Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase quarterfinals: Shelby Mills (10:11.37, 10th)
Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase quarterfinals: Troy Fraley (9:10.49, 29th)
Saturday
Women's 5,000 meters semifinals: Maggie Jones (17:07.89, 36th)
Men's 5,000 meters semifinals: Willie Milam (14:05.05, 17th)
