The new pipeline from Oceania keeps producing top-notch middle distance talent for Marcus O'Sullivan's men's team. Joining Villanova for the fall 2012 semester will be one of Australia's top young talents, Jordy Williamsz from Melbourne. Williamsz, one month short of his twentieth birthday, will bring to Villanova some impressive PRs: 1:47.34 (800 meters, July 2011), a brand new 3:36.74 (1500 meters, May 14 2012), 8:13.75 (3000 meters, December 2011) and international experience: he represented Australia at the 2009 World Youth championships in Bressanone, Italy.
Williamsz, a protege, as it were, of 1:44/3:32 Melbourne Track Club stalwart Jeff Riseley, follows in the footsteps of such previous Villanova "down under" runners as Adrian Blincoe, Nic O'Brien, Matt Gibney, Sam McEntee, Hugo Beamish, Mathew Mildenhall, Carl Mackenzie, and (albeit briefly) Ben Guest. Williamsz was part of a Melbourne Track Club group that visited the US this spring to run the early outdoor season; among other competitions, he competed at the Penn Relays in April and at the Swarthmore Last Chance meet in May, where he ran a new 1500 PR of 3:36.74. The addition of Williamsz gives Villanova two 3:36 1500 meter men. His 1500 meter PRs have been improving steadily over the past few years: 3:46.06 (2009), 3:44.27 (2010), 3:40.96 (2011), and 3:36.74 (2012). Still only 19 years old, Williamsz looks to have a bright future both collegiately and internationally.
Here's Williamsz (white singlet, green bottoms) and Sam McEntee going 3:36 over 1500 meters at Swarthmore in May.
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