BATON ROUGE — After an outstanding performance in the 400-meter hurdles at the Texas Relays this past weekend, sophomore standout Nickiesha Wilson has been named SEC Women’s Runner of the Week as announced by the league office Tuesday.
Wilson improved her national-leading time in the event after clocking a new personal best of 56.67 seconds in the prelims on Friday as she strengthens her hold on the No. 4 spot on the all-time outdoor performance at LSU.
The Kingston, Jamaica, native followed her performance in the prelims on Friday by taking top honors in the event after clocking a time of 57.12 in Saturday’s final despite temperatures dipping into the 30s and a steady rain falling on the track throughout the afternoon.
Wilson, who became the first Lady Tiger to win the event title at the Texas Relays since former LSU All-American and current assistant coach Debbie Parris-Thymes did so in 1993, finished ahead of the nation’s second-ranked performer as Ajoke Odumosu of South Alabama crossed the finish line in a time of 57.93 in the final heat.
In addition, Wilson also ran the lead leg on the foursome that clocked the fastest preliminary time in the 1,600-meter relay with a time of 3 minutes, 33.82 seconds on Friday night. Saturday’s final in the event was canceled due to the deteriorating conditions on the track.
Wilson has proven to be one of the nation’s most prolific hurdlers in her first season with the Lady Tigers as she has now posted NCAA regional qualifying times in both the 100 hurdles (13.32) and 400 hurdles (56.67), while she is also qualified to run on the Lady Tigers’ 1,600-meter relay team at the regional meet.