Ambrose Takes Third in NCAA 100-Meter Final

 

EUGENE, Ore. -- Sophomore Luther Ambrose of the ULM track and field team earned All-American honors on Friday (June 11) at the NCAA Championships, finishing third in the 100-meter dash finals. 

Ambrose, competing in his first NCAA Championship meet, clocked in with a season-best time of 10.12 seconds to earn a third-place finish. Jeff Demps of Florida won the national title with a time of 9.96 seconds and Kentucky’s Rondel Sorrillo took second in 10.09. 

The time by Ambrose was the fastest ever run by a ULM student-athlete, though it will not stand as a school record because it was not wind-legal. 

“I went out there focused, knowing that I had a tough competition ahead of me and I just ran my race,” said Ambrose. “Coming in I was a little nervous, but I have run a couple of other big meets so I tried to use that experience and not think too much about the race, just go out there and do my best. I was constantly thinking, get the guy in from of me and keep pushing and let everything else take care of itself.”

Running out of lane one, Ambrose, the eighth-seeded competitor in the eight-man field. After a clean start, he was locked in a battle for third with about four other runners at the midway point of the race before breaking from that group to create clear separation between himself and places four through six. Gerald Phiri of Texas A&M was fourth in 10.20, Rakieem Salamm of Oklahoma took fifth in 10.21 and Texas A&M’s Curtis Mitchell was sixth in 10.23. 

“Before the race we talked about driving out a little longer from the blocks, that was the race plan, and I think that helped at the end, to not slow down as much,” said ULM head coach J.D. Malone. “He is absolutely a competitor and he performs his best when he has to. Today, he was unbelievable.” 
 
With his finish, Ambrose became just the second ULM All-American in the 100-meter dash, joining Fred Fields who earned All-America honors in the 100 in 1992. Fields finished eighth in the 100 meters that year to earn All-America recognition. 
 
Ambrose’s participation in the 100-meter final concludes competition for the Warhawks at the NCAA Championships.

100-meter final full results

1. Jeff Demps, Florida (9.96)
2. Rondel Sorrillo, Kentucky (10.09)
3. Luther Ambrose, ULM (10.12)
4. Gerald Phiri, Texas A&M (10.20)
5. Rakieem Salaam, Oklahoma (10.21)
6. Curtis Mitchell, Texas A&M (10.23)
7. Reggie Dixon, Hampton (10.39)
8. Marcus Rowland, Auburn (10.61)