June 7, 2005

WACO, Texas - Baylor assistant track and field coach Michael Ford was named the Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year for women's sprints and hurdles by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Tuesday.

At the NCAA Midwest Regional in Norman, Okla., the Bears' 4x100-meter relay squad of junior Marquisha Sefas (Ft. Worth, Texas) and Angel Perkins (Cerritos, Calif.) and seniors Elizabeth Wilson (Duncanville, Texas) and Lakadron Ivery (Tyler, Texas) broke the school record and finished second with a time of 43.90 to qualify for the NCAA Championships. The women's 4x400-meter relay finished second at the Big 12 Championships and has also qualified for the NCAA Championships.

Ivery has broken the school record in the 100 meters with a time of 11.25 and qualified for the NCAA Championships by finishing third at the NCAA Midwest Regional. She also qualified in the 200 meters, taking second at both the Big 12 and NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. Wilson also qualified in the 100 and 200 meters, while freshman Carla Grace (San Antonio, Texas) has enjoyed a standout freshman season, qualifying for nationals in the 100 meters.

Ford, who graduated from Baylor in 1997, is in his fourth season as assistant coach at Baylor. Last year, the Rochester, N.Y., native was inducted into the Section V Track & Field Hall of Fame. He and senior Darold Williamson (San Antonio, Texas), who was named Mondo Midwest Region Athlete of the Year, will receive their awards at a banquet tonight in Sacramento, Calif.

Ford will help guide the Bears at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Wednesday through Saturday at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex in Sacramento, Calif.