Senior Issac Williams has been a constant for the track and field team, and will look to make yet another appearance at the NCAA Championships this season. | File photo/The Cougar

Coming off a season where the track and field team finished the champions of the American Athletic Conference at the Indoor Championships and third at the Outdoor Championships, the squad is quietly preparing itself for their 2015-16 season, primed to defend their title.

Spearheading this group are the hurdlers, a talented group led by a hardened veteran, senior Issac Williams. They will give the Cougars valuable points as the season rolls along.

Senior Issac Williams: A dual competitor in both the hurdles and the jumps, Williams is the clear leader of the bunch with numerous accolades to his name.

Williams is coming off his third straight season of qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championship and will be looking to make a fourth trip.

In addition to his successful defense of his 110m AAC Championship and adding the 60m crown, Williams set personal best times in the 60m indoor hurdles and 400m outdoor hurdles, running a 7.72 and 55.94 respectively.

His 7.72 time is currently the fastest in the nation.

Williams’ skill in the hurdles, high jump and relays solidifies his presence as one of the top contributors across the squad.

Junior Caleb Holl: Holl is entering the season as the second-most experienced hurdler on the team.

Competing in eleven meets across both the indoor and outdoor seasons, Holl is coming off a campaign that saw him set new personal bests in the 600m and 800m indoor competitions, running 50.55 and 2:00.95 respectively.

After two straight seasons of providing valuable points for the squad, Holl should be looking to use last season as springboard for further success in the upcoming campaign.

Sophomore Jeremy Winchester: Winchester will be entering his second stint as a member of the UH track and field team this season after redshirting as a defensive back for the football team.

Winchester set a personal best time of 8.24 in the 60m hurdles last year and his football athleticism should translate well to track competition.

Best of the Rest: Amere Lattin (Marshall HS) and Marcus McWilliams (Pflugerville HS): These two incoming freshmen may be new to the area but will most definitely set a foundation for the team to develop on for the next four years.

Lattin is both a top athlete in the state and national rankings, running 8.03 60m hurdle at the Carl Lewis High School Invitational, a 13.53 110m hurdle at the Youth Olympic Games and a winning time of 37.69 300m hurdle at the Texas Southern Relays.

His time at the Youth Olympic Games placed him third in the nation.

McWilliams, a dual athlete in both football and track, is coming off a season where he won the 110m Hurdle and 300m Hurdle District 13-6A crown.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“Hurdlers promise to be a strong point for Cougars” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar