UC Irvine Olympians

Persis William-Mensah

  • Country Ghana
  • Sport / Event Track & Field, 4x100m
  • Olympic Years 2016

Biography

OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE
• One of Ghana’s 16 Olympians who traveled to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Summer Games
• Selected for the 4x100 relay pool after competing in the 100m at the African Senior Track & Field Championships
• Was not chosen for Ghana’s quartet that took eighth in Heat 1 of the opening round
 
AT UC IRVINE
• Graduated from UC Irvine in 2018 with a degree in public health sciences
• Left UCI as the top sprinter in program history, holding five school records
• Established the top outdoor marks in the 100m (11.48), 200m (23.56) and 4x100 (44.51)
• Set indoor records in the 60m (7.38) and 200m (24.26)
• Three-time NCAA West Preliminary qualifier in the 100m
• Also advanced to the regional meet in the 200m and 4x100 as a senior
• Six-time All-Big West performer, winning conference titles in the 100m (2018) and 4x100 (2016)
 
EXTRAS
• Represented Ghana at the 2017 and 2019 IAAF World Championships
• Ran the third leg of the 4x100 relay that finished seventh at the IAAF World Relays to qualify for the World Championships
• Born in Cape Coast, Ghana, but moved at a young age with her family to Southern California