University of Houston Athletics
Burrell Wins Second American Athlete of the Week Honor
1/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - For the second time this season, sophomore sprinter Cameron Burrell has been honored by the American Athletic Conference as the Track Athlete of the Week for his performance in the 60m and 200m dashes at the University of New Mexico Lobo Collegiate Open in Albuquerque, N.M.
Burrell's day started in the finals of the 60m dash, where he competed against six of the nation's top-80 sprinters. The Houston native clocked a season best 6.60 to win the event to give him his third victory in the 60m dash this season and the sixth fastest time in the NCAA.
The Ridge Point High School alum would find the podium again later in the day after racing the 200m dash for the first time this season. Burrell crossed the line in 21.21 to finish second (first among collegiate athletes) and register the nation's 13th fastest time in the event.
A Houston student-athlete has been named athlete of the week in each of the four weeks the award has been given, and the Cougars have received five awards in that period. Along with Burrell's two, Issac Williams and Brian Barraza have each been named the Track Athlete of the Week, while Trumaine Jefferson claimed the Cougars' lone Field Athlete of the Week award.
UP NEXT
Houston returns home this weekend to host the Howie Ryan Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Jan 30-31 at the Yeoman Fieldhouse. Action of Friday is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., with the women's weight throw, while the Saturday events will kick off at 9 a.m., with the women's shot put. Running events are slated to begin at 4:30 p.m., Friday and noon on Saturday.
ABOUT HOWIE RYAN
Ryan was a three-time letterwinner for the Cougars from 1965-1967 and helped lead the Cougars to Top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships during each of those seasons.
While competing for Houston, Ryan set new school records in the 1,500m, 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase. He was a nationally ranked competitor and participated in 12 national championships. No doubt Ryan had the endurance for distance, the agility to make it over steeples, and the speed to compete at the national level.
Former head track and field coach, Tom Tellez, remembered Ryan as "a kind individual that would do anything for others and he was a tough competitor."
In 1966, he was an NCAA All-American and later pursued excellence as he qualified for the 1972 Olympic Trials in the 5,000m run and in the steeplechase and again in 1976 in the steeplechase.
Following his competitive career, Howie began his coaching career at the high school level in 1970 before returning to his alma mater in 1976, where he was a coach for the Cougars for 26 seasons.
"I hired him right away and he was with me my whole time at UH. He related well with the athletes and was very knowledgeable about distance running," Tellez said.
After a coaching career that spanned decades and included the mentoring of numerous champions, he retired in 2002.
His life was short-lived as the Cougar great passed away on June 3, 2008 at the age of 63.
"Howie Ryan was all about his athletes," former athlete, Kyle Tellez recalled. "He would run with us during workouts, and he pushed as both a coach and training partner."
Ryan's contributions not only as an athlete, but also as a coach and mentor serve as a lasting legacy to the Houston cross-country and track and field programs. He will forever be remembered for his ability to motivate and lead by example.
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