On the final day of the UAB Green & Gold Invitational track meet, Talladega sprinter Nastario Williams made history by becoming the first athlete in the school’s history to qualify for the NAIA national championships in the 100-meter dash.
Williams set a new personal record in the 100-meter with a time of 10.65 seconds, finishing fourth overall in the event.
Born in the Bahamas, Williams excels in a number of events, including the 200 meters, javelin throw and long jump.
Today Nastario Williams becomes the first track and field athlete in Talladega College school history to qualify for the national championship in the men’s 100 meter dash. (10.65) pic.twitter.com/bEKI9q63Xf
— Talladega College Track & Field (@DegaTrack) April 9, 2022
The Bahamian athlete was actually the second Talladega athlete that qualified for the NAIA national championships, with the first being Emmanuel Niang.
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Niang qualified back on March 19 at the Falcon Classic in the 110-meter hurdles posting a time of 14.18 seconds.
In addition to both Williams and Niang qualifying for the national championships, Talladega’s 4×100 meter relay team also secured a spot.
Today Emmanuel Niang becomes the first track and field athlete in Talladega College school history to qualified for the national championship. The men’s 4×100 relay also qualified. pic.twitter.com/ASyDvJNlWK
— Talladega College Track & Field (@DegaTrack) March 19, 2022
Last week, both Niang and Williams were named the men’s Athlete of the Week by the Southern States Athletic Conference after spectacular performances in the UAB Spring Invitational.
At the event, Williams finished in the top five in the 100 meters (3rd), 200 meters (4th) and long jump (4th) while also finishing sixth in the javelin throw.
Meanwhile, Niang recorded the second-fastest time in the 110-meter hurdles (14.3) and the sixth-best measurement in the long jump (6.37 meters).
Next Saturday, Talladega will be participating in the War Eagle Invitational hosted by Auburn University followed by the SSAC conference championships the weekend afterward.
The NAIA National Championships are set to take place on May 25-27.