Shaquille Walker

Shaquille Walker
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1993-06-24) June 24, 1993 (age 30)
Blue Island, IL
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportTrack, Road running
Event(s)800 metres, 400 metres
College teamBYU Cougars
ClubBrooks Beast Seattle
TeamBrooks Sports
Turned pro2016
Coached byDan Mackey
Retired2018
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  USA
Athletics at the 2015 Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2015 Gwangju, South Korea 800 m
2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics
Barcelona, Spain 800 m

Shaquille Walker (born February 2, 1993, in Blue Island, Illinois) is an American retired track runner competing for the United States and a former Brigham Young University track student-athlete.

Prep

Walker is African-American, born in Blue Island, Illinois. His family moved to Richmond Hill, Georgia, when he was very young. Walker was raised Baptist. He converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while in high school and served a mission for the church in the Manchester, England. Walker won 2011 Georgia High School Association AAAA state track and field title in 800 meters in a time of 1:53.27. Walker won 2010 Georgia High School Association AAAA state track and field title in 800 meters in a time of 1:51.71.[1]

NCAA

Walker finished third at the 2016 NCAA Championships. Walker finished third at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships. Walker finished fifth at the 2015 NCAA Championships. Walker finished tenth at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships. Walker is a three time Mountain Pacific Sports Federation track and field champion (Once as a member of the 4 x 400 m relay team).

Walker finished his BYU career as the school record holder in the indoor 800 meters with a time of 1:46.97, set in 2016. He also was part of the Distance medley relay (DMR) squad that holds the program record with a time of 9:29.00, set in 2012, and the 4x400 Men's Relay squad that set the school record in 2015 with a 3:07.66 time. As an outdoor track and field athlete, Walker also holds the school record in the 800m with a time of 1:44.99, set in 2016. In 2015, Walker ran a 400m in 46:00 and sits in sixth place in the record books at Brigham Young University. His 4x400-meter relay squad holds the record with a time of 3:03.82 and the DMR record with a time of 3:14.74, both records set in 2015.

Walker qualified to compete in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials and placed 11th overall with a time of 1:47.93.

The Curtis Pugsley Track and Field Award is BYU track and field's highest honor, given each year to one male and one female student athlete. The winners of the 2016 Curtis Pugsley Track and Field Athlete of the Year Award are Shaquille Walker and Shea Collinsworth.[2] Walker placed 17th in 800 meters 2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics.[3]

Year MPSF indoor NCAA indoor NCAA Outdoor
2016 800 m 1:46.97 1st 800 m 1:47.50 3rd 800 m 1:45.17 3rd
4x400 3:07.68 2nd
2015 800 m 1:48.53 1st 800 m 1:48.99 10th 800 m 1:49.99 5th
4x400 3:07.66 1st
2012 800 m 1:49.85 5th[4]
4x400 3:09.71 3rd 4x400 3:06.81 15th[5][6]

Professional

Walker placed 1st in 800 meters at 2012 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 1:49.39.

Walker placed 6th in 800 meters at 2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 1:46.60.

In June 2016, Walker signed a contract with Brooks Sports to represent their brand as a professional athlete. Walker placed 11th in 800 meters at 2016 United States Olympic Trials (track and field) in 1:47.93.

Immediately after the 2016 Olympic Trials, Walker won the Nick Symmonds Springfield Straight 800m Road Race, where he ran 1:46.54 to break the world record for the distance on the roads.

Walker placed 12th in 800 meters at 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 1:47.02.

In January 2018, FloTrack announced his retirement.[7]

Major competition

In the summer of 2015 Walker received the gold medal in 800 meters at the 2015 Summer Universiade.

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2012 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships Bloomington, Indiana 1st 800 m 1:49.39[8][9]
2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, Oregon 6th 800 m 1:46.60[10][11]
2016 US Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 11th 800 m 1:47.93[12][13]
2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Sacramento, California 12th 800 m 1:47.02[14]

References

  1. ^ "Shaquille Walker Richmond Hill HS 2010 and 2011 GHSA Track and Field results". athletic.net. May 7, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  2. ^ "Walker and Collinsworth named Pugsley Award winners". BYU Cougars. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  3. ^ "Walker Ends Run At World Juniors". BYU Cougars. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  4. ^ "BYU FINISHES STRONG AT MPSF CHAMPIONSHIPS". BYU Cougars. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  5. ^ "NCAA Division I Championships Results Drake Stadium - Des Moines, IA June 6-9, 2012 (Day 2 June 7) Men's 1600 Meter Relay Prelim". FlashResults. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  6. ^ "NCAA Division I Championships Results Drake Stadium - Des Moines, IA June 6-9, 2012 (Day 2 June 7)". FlashResults. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  7. ^ "At 24, Shaquille Walker Retires From Track". FloTrack. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  8. ^ "2012 USATF Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships". Usatf.org. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  9. ^ "Walker Wins USA Junior Title". BYU Cougars. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  10. ^ "2015 USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships". Usatf.org. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  11. ^ "WALKER SETS NEW RECORD AT USATF CHAMPIONSHIPS". BYU Cougars. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  12. ^ "2016 USA Olympic Trials Track and Field". Usatf.org. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  13. ^ "COUGARS COMPETE IN U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS OVER THE WEEKEND". BYU Cougars. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  14. ^ "2017 USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships". Usatf.org. Retrieved January 5, 2018.

Sources