Former 49er Shareese Woods won the 400m at the USA Track and Field Indoor National Championship Sunday |
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Charlotte Alum Shareese Woods Wins National Indoor Championship
Feb. 25, 2008
Charlotte, N.C. - Former 49er and four-time NCAA All American Shareese Woods won the 400m dash national championship at the USA Track & Field Indoor National Championship in Boston Sunday, earning the right to represent the United States in the IAAF Indoor World Championship in Valencia, Spain on March 7-9, 2008. With the win, Woods becomes the first-ever 49er to take an individual national championship title.
Her lifetime best 52.03 proved to be the fastest time in the two-heat final, besting an accomplished field of professionals and former NCAA standouts from across the nation. In Saturday's preliminary heats, Woods won heat one in 52.86, the second-fastest time in the round and a personal best at the time. With her performance, Woods now owns the fastest 400m time in the nation this season and seventh-fastest time in the world.
"I always try to remain focused when I'm in races like this," Woods said. "Before heading into the championship, I talked to my parents and they always tell me to ignore the hype, just treat the race like it's practice. I think that laid back attitude helped me execute and allowed me to run a personal best."
Woods continues to train at Charlotte and continues to be guided by 49er Associate Head Coach Tim Hall who specializes in sprints, hurdles and relays. Hall is proud of her accomplishment and was optimistic about Woods' performance leading into the competition.
"It's rewarding to finally see this young lady come into her own," he said. "Her practices have all been phenomenal and I knew going in she was prepared, she just had to go in relaxed and execute. Performing so well out of heat two [of the two heat final], she's proven she's well deserving of this championship and to represent the USA at the world championships."
Charlotte head coach Bob Olesen is similarly proud of Woods.
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"Shareese's victory is an amazing accomplishment and she deserves a great deal of credit for succeeding in what can frequently be a difficult transition from college to post-collegiate track and field in the United States," he said. "I also feel that her performance supports our vision for the program with respect to providing for success at the highest levels of sport, even as a post-graduate. I'm glad that she has remained in Charlotte after graduating and continues to train here. I hope that she feels our support is playing an important role in her continued support."
Woods is the most decorated Charlotte track and field athlete in school history. She earned All American honors four times (400m - Indoor 2006; 200m - Outdoor 2006, Indoor 2007, Outdoor 2007), and holds eleven program records, including the 55m (6.85), 60m (7.43), 100m (11.37), 200m indoor (22.97), 200m outdoor (22.74), 400m indoor (53.32), 400m outdoor (52.47), 4x100m relay (44.13), 4x200m relay (1:35.90), 4x400m relay indoor (3:42.18) and 4x400m relay outdoor (3:38.60). After the inception of the outdoor NCAA regional advancement structure in her sophomore year, Woods recorded a school-record six East Regional finishes and also has the most All-Conference performances (17) in program history, including nine individual conference championships and five relay conference championships. Woods was also named team MVP numerous times and was instrumental in securing the first two of what now have been six consecutive Atlantic 10 indoor and outdoor team championships.
Woods has also successfully represented the United States on four previous occasions: 2006 North American Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Games with a gold in the 4x100m, 2007 NACAC Games with a gold in the 4x400m and silver in the 200m, 2007 Pan American Games with a silver in the 4x100m and seventh place in the 200m, and the 2008 Norwich Union International Match with a first place 200m performance.
Sunday's results combined with a strong showing at the world championship should give Woods a great deal of momentum heading into the outdoor season and June's US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon from which the Beijing Olympic team will be selected and where all of the nation's best sprinters will come together to see who makes the most elite of teams.
