SVSU鈥檚 Williamson, Black earn DII national championships
UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. (BVM) — The outstanding seasons of Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) track and field athletes Cheyenne Williamson and Sam Black were capped off in style last week as both took home NCAA DII Track & Field Outdoor National Championships.
For Williamson, she set a personal record while winning the heptathlon national title. The freshman finished third in the long jump and second in the 800-meter run, closing competition with a total of 5,595 points, nearly 200 points better than the next-closest finisher.
THE CHAMP!!
— svsuathletics (@svsuathletics)
Williamson鈥檚 title adds to a rich recent history for the Cardinals, as she is the second consecutive national champion in the women鈥檚 heptathlon from SVSU, following fellow teammate Lauren Huebner who won the event in 2019. The win also adds to Williamson鈥檚 impressive first-season resume with the Cardinals, as she also won three individual indoor national championships.
Meanwhile, senior Sam Black claimed the men鈥檚 decathlon national title and did so in dominating fashion. Black accumulated 7,583 points across the 10 events, almost 400 points ahead of the rest of the pack. His win was the first national title for the SVSU men鈥檚 track and field team.
鈥淚鈥檝e been dreaming about this moment for the longest time鈥� – Sam Black, 2021 NCAA DII Outdoor Decathlon National Champion
— svsuathletics (@svsuathletics)
It was a strong performance throughout, as Black placed first in the 110-meter hurdles and discus. He would go on to place sixth in the pole vault, fourth in the javelin and eighth in the 1,500-meter run.
For Black, it was a season of redemption after not being able to compete in 2020. After top-10 decathlon finishes in 2017 and 2018, the Allendale, Mich. native can now add national champion to his resume as he concludes his time with the Cardinals.聽
On the other side, Williamson is just beginning what could be a legendary collegiate career, and she will look to continue her championship dominance in the years to come.
