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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Antwon Hicks Named SEC Male Track Runner Of The Week
2/15/2005 | Track and Field
Feb. 15, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Antwon Hicks, a Hot Springs, Ark., native, has been named Southeastern Conference Male Track and Field Runner of the Week, as announced by the league office. Hicks, who also earned the honor on January 18, is the first Ole Miss track and field athlete to receive the honor twice in one season since Kendrick Triggs earned the honor on April 16 and April 23, 2003.
Hicks won his fifth-straight 60-meter hurdle title last weekend by finishing first at the ISU Classic with his time of 7.65. His winning time tied his season's best mark, which also ranks as the top time in the SEC and the NCAA this year.
"Antwon is having a phenomenal season," said Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker. "He has been very strong in his training and his races are showing how hard he has been working. He is healthy and we are expecting more great things from Antwon."
Hicks, a 6-2 senior, is 5-for-5 in 60-meter hurdle races, having won all five races he has competed in this season. He has won six-straight races, including last year's NCAA Championship meet. He has recorded three marks below 7.70 this season and four in his career.
Hicks started off the 2005 indoor season with a blazing performance in Fayetteville at the Arkansas Invitational. His time of 7.65 was nearly as dominant as his NCAA Championships performance from last season and earned him SEC Runner of the Week honors. Hicks was the 2004 NCAA Indoor Champion in the event and won that race with his personal best time of 7.61.
Behind Hicks' outstanding hurdling, the Rebels have moved up four more places in the latest Trackwire 25 Rankings to the 14th slot. The Ole Miss men have been ranked all season, with 14th being their highest ranking after moving up from their 18th spot in last week's power rankings.
"I think it is great that we keep moving up," said Walker. "It is nice to be recognized as one of the top programs in the country. It is a good moral boost for our team, but the fact remains we still have to go out and perform. The ranking is not going to help us in any races."
Available online since the 1997 season, the Trackwire 25 has established itself as the most widely respected and reported ranking of Division I collegiate track & field teams. The Trackwire 25 is compiled by respected and field statistician Gary Verigin.
The Trackwire 25 projects a hypothetical score for the NCAA meet, factoring in injury reports and other variables supported by information gathered from coaches and NCAA-qualifying competitions across the country. The Trackwire 25 projection is generated by scoring the Dandy Dozen, which is a power ranking of the top 12 athletes and relay squads in each NCAA track and field event.
Hicks and the Ole Miss track and field teams will return to Fayetteville on Feb. 25-27 for the 2005 SEC Indoor Championships. They will take this weekend off in preparation for the prestigious indoor meet, which will be held at the Randal Tyson Track Complex on the University of Arkansas campus.
