Wins in 200, 400 by Willis headlines Pack's showing at CSU-Pueblo Open

ThunderWolves garner wins in three events as outdoor season opens.

PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Mar. 26, 2011) - ThunderWolves freshman sprinter Shilay Willis (Fr., Aurora, Colo.) kicked off the Pack's outdoor season with a bang Saturday, winning two events and getting a provisional qualifying mark in the 400-meter at the CSU-Pueblo Open.

Willis cruised to a win in the 200-meter dash with a mark of 25.68, winning by mere thousandths of a second over University of Wyoming sprinter, Lindsey Simmons, but that was nothing compared to her performance in the 400-meter.

Willis came 0.8 seconds away from a school record in the 400-meter, turning in a provisionally qualifying mark of 55.72, a personal best for Willis in the event.  She was able to best second place finisher, Northern Colorado's Justine Sandersfeld, by a full second.  She also had her hand in a second-place showing in the 4x100-meter relay.

Joining Willis in the winners' circle was Danita Wyatt (Jr., Aurora, Colo.), who took the triple jump crown with a leap of 37 feet, 11-1/4 inches. 

The ThunderWolves' performances were made all the more impressive by the participants at the meet, which was nearly split down the middle between Division I athletes and Division II athletes.

CSU-Pueblo will take a week off before it heads to Boulder for the University of Colorado Invitational April 9.