June 24, 2007

UTPA high jumper Will Littleton (Cuero, TX/Angelo State Univ.) wrapped up the track and field season with a ninth place finish at the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the IU Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium on the campus of IUPUI on Sunday (Jun. 24).

On a day that featured strong winds and a soggy track, Littleton represented UTPA with a 7-1.75 leap en route to a top-ten finish among the nation's best high jumpers. The UTPA high jumper finished behind only one other collegian in NCAA Champion Scott Sellers of Kansas State, out-jumping some of his fiercest competitors of the 2007-08 season.

"As a whole, the group struggled, but I think NCAA Regionals and Nationals took its toll on the college guys today. When you come out of a Region that's so tough without having much time off between meets, it takes its toll, but it shows that Will is capable of beating anyone," said head men's and women's track and field coach Ricky Vaughn.

Competing unattached, Jim Dilling took home the championship crown with a jump of 7-5.25 while Nike's Jamie Nieto and Adam Shunk rounded out the top three with a height of 7-4.25 in a jump off.

"It's disappointing because now that the competition is over I realize that if I equaled my best jump I could have won the meet, but this season has been unbelievable and it sets me up for next season," said Littleton.

The UTPA senior still has one year of Indoor competition eligibility, and will likely use it to improve on a remarkable season that saw the program record set twice in as many weeks while recording three consecutive meet crowns to kick-off the outdoor season, failing to fall below seven feet in any competition outdoors.

"This season was fun, it was great, but next year is where I can make my dreams come true of qualifying for the Olympics. I'll probably take some time off now and then start training for next season in a month," said Littleton.

UTPA Sports Information