For Immediate Release: June
16, 2000
Contact: Derek Smolik, UT Pan American SID
EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American Track and Field program announced on Friday the signing of Bastad, Sweden, native Philip Wilhelmsson to a letter of intent for the 2000-01 academic year.
Wilhelmsson comes to Edinburg from the University of Mobile, an NAIA school in Mobile, Ala., where he was a standout last season in cross-country and track. Despite an early season injury that limited him to just two meets during the cross-country season, Wilhelmsson was the top runner for UM and qualified for the NAIA National Championships as a freshman, running a 26:40 for the 8000 meter. He finished second at the Gulf Coast Conference Championship Meet. He continued to excel in indoor track and field, qualifying for the NAIA Indoor Championships in the 1000-meter.
Though a native of Sweden, Wilhelmsson was a foreign exchange student at Franklin High School in Franklin, N.C. He was an all-conference, all-region and all-state selection in both cross-country and track. In his native Sweden, Wilhelmsson was a member of the Under-20 Junior National Cross Country team in 1997 and 1998. A seven-sport athlete at Bergaskolan High School in Sweden, he was named Best Overall Male Athlete, at a school with over 2000 students.
“We’re excited to have him on the team,” said UTPA Coach Dan Laufer. “He should make an immediate impact on our cross country and track teams this year.”
Wilhelmsson,
who will join UTPA as a sophomore, is the sixth signee by the cross-country and
track programs so far this spring. He
joins previous track and field signees Rashaad Ben, Valerie Summa, April
Hipolito, Angelica Garza and Michael Sperry who have already joined the Broncs
and Lady Broncs for the 2000-01 season.