Amaechi Morton To Compete In World Track And Field Championships

Amaechi Morton To Compete In World Track And Field Championships
After just one year on The Farm, Morton will compete in the 4x400 meters for Nigeria




Amaechi Morton



Aug. 4, 2009


Berlin - Stanford sophomore Amaechi Morton recently qualified for the IAAF World Championships in track and field. Competing at the Nigerian trials, Morton placed second in the 400 meters and was named to the 4x400-meter relay team for Nigeria.

Morton, who set the Stanford record in the 400-meter hurdles as a freshman was also an NCAA qualifier in the same event. However, at the Nigerian trials, Morton chose to run the open 400 meters due to his lack of hurdle training over the summer. The decision proved fruitful as he will compete in a major international competition, second only to the Olympic Games in significance in track and field.

Morton is excited to compete against the world's best after getting his feet wet with the best the NCAA had to offer in 2009.

"At Stanford I was able to compete with the best in the nation and watch the best in the nation compete," said Morton. "Now I will be able to compete with the best in the world and watch them compete as well."

The World Track and Field Championships take place from Aug.15-23, with the 4x400 meters taking place on the final two days. The heats will be on Aug. 22, at 9:55 am PST, while the final will take place the following day, Aug. 23, at 9:15 am PST.

Morton is hoping to help Nigeria to a medal, but also is looking forward to taking in the whole experience. "My main goal is to return back home with a medal," said Morton. "Also, I just want to enjoy the opportunity and take everything I have learned from it and begin to use it in my everyday life and my sport to become a better individual and athlete."

Morton's mother, Nkem Sabena Obiekwe, is a native of Nigeria, which gives her son the opportunity to compete for the African nation.

The World Championships will be televised in it's entirely by Versus. Check out their website HERE for the complete television schedule.






Dylan Ferris



Morton is not the only Stanford runner busy this summer competing abroad. Dylan Ferris also recently competed in the World Junior Pan-American Games. Ferris, who is also coming off an impressive freshman season placed fifth in the 800 meters.

Competing in Tabago, Trinidad and Tobago, Ferris ran a time of 1:49.83 to better his best time of the season. He had previously run 1:49.84 at the Pacific USATF Meet.

courtesy stanford