Persis William-Mensah Heads to London for World Championships
August 02, 2017 | Women's Track & Field
IAAF World Championships Information
IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine rising senior Persis William-Mensah will be among elite company once again as she is set to represent her native country of Ghana in the women's 4x100 relay at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, Aug. 4-13.
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Last year, William-Mensah was one of Ghana's 16 Olympians who traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2016 Summer Games. She was selected for the Olympic 4x100 relay pool after competing in the 100-meters at the African Senior Track & Field Championships.
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"It is humbling to have another opportunity to compete against the best in the world," William-Mensah said before she left for London on Monday. "Last year, with the African Championships and Olympic Games I was new to everything regarding international competition. It was a lot to take in at once, and this year I'm glad I am going in knowing what to expect a little more. It means the world to me to get to represent my native country and do the sport I love at the same time, and I thank God for allowing me to do so."
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Ghana's 4x100 relay earned a berth into the IAAF World Championships by ranking among the top-16 countries at the end of the qualification period. The prelims and final will both be contested on Saturday, Aug. 12.
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William-Mensah concluded her junior campaign with the Anteaters at the NCAA West Preliminaries in May, but continued to train over the last couple months at UCI in preparation for the World Championships.
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A four-time All-Big West performer, William-Mensah holds four school records as she ranks first in the 100m and 4x100 relay, while also owning UC Irvine's top indoor marks in the 60m and 200m. She has been the conference runner-up in the 100m in each of the last two years, and was a Big West champion in the 4x100 as a sophomore. It was the 'Eaters first 4x100 title since 1992.
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William-Mensah was born in Cape Coast, Ghana, but moved at a young age with her family to Southern California. She graduated from Estancia High School in Costa Mesa.
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IAAF World Championships
London, Great Britain & Northern Ireland
August 4-13, 2017
Women's 4x100 Relay
Bahamas
Brazil
China
Ecuador
France
Great Britain & N.I.
Germany
Ghana (Gemma Acheampong, Janet Amponsah, Akua Obeng-Akrofi, Flings Owusu-Agyapong, Persis William-Mensah)
Jamaica
Kazakhstan
Netherlands
Nigeria
Switzerland
Trinidad and Tobago
Ukraine
United States
Saturday, Aug. 12Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Local TimeΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Pacific Time
HeatsΒ Β Β Β Β Β 10:35 a.m.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 2:35 a.m.
FinalΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 9:30 p.m.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 1:30 p.m.
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IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine rising senior Persis William-Mensah will be among elite company once again as she is set to represent her native country of Ghana in the women's 4x100 relay at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, Aug. 4-13.
Β
Last year, William-Mensah was one of Ghana's 16 Olympians who traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2016 Summer Games. She was selected for the Olympic 4x100 relay pool after competing in the 100-meters at the African Senior Track & Field Championships.
Β
"It is humbling to have another opportunity to compete against the best in the world," William-Mensah said before she left for London on Monday. "Last year, with the African Championships and Olympic Games I was new to everything regarding international competition. It was a lot to take in at once, and this year I'm glad I am going in knowing what to expect a little more. It means the world to me to get to represent my native country and do the sport I love at the same time, and I thank God for allowing me to do so."
Β
Ghana's 4x100 relay earned a berth into the IAAF World Championships by ranking among the top-16 countries at the end of the qualification period. The prelims and final will both be contested on Saturday, Aug. 12.
Β
William-Mensah concluded her junior campaign with the Anteaters at the NCAA West Preliminaries in May, but continued to train over the last couple months at UCI in preparation for the World Championships.
Β
A four-time All-Big West performer, William-Mensah holds four school records as she ranks first in the 100m and 4x100 relay, while also owning UC Irvine's top indoor marks in the 60m and 200m. She has been the conference runner-up in the 100m in each of the last two years, and was a Big West champion in the 4x100 as a sophomore. It was the 'Eaters first 4x100 title since 1992.
Β
William-Mensah was born in Cape Coast, Ghana, but moved at a young age with her family to Southern California. She graduated from Estancia High School in Costa Mesa.
Β
IAAF World Championships
London, Great Britain & Northern Ireland
August 4-13, 2017
Women's 4x100 Relay
Bahamas
Brazil
China
Ecuador
France
Great Britain & N.I.
Germany
Ghana (Gemma Acheampong, Janet Amponsah, Akua Obeng-Akrofi, Flings Owusu-Agyapong, Persis William-Mensah)
Jamaica
Kazakhstan
Netherlands
Nigeria
Switzerland
Trinidad and Tobago
Ukraine
United States
Saturday, Aug. 12Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Local TimeΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Pacific Time
HeatsΒ Β Β Β Β Β 10:35 a.m.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 2:35 a.m.
FinalΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 9:30 p.m.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 1:30 p.m.
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Players Mentioned
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