Wil London has been named the Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week, the conference office announced Wednesday.
"Being Big 12 athlete of the week means a lot," London said. "I've been through a lot these last couple weeks and these last couple years. It feels good to bounce back and be where I was once."
The senior from Waco made his season debut in the 400 meters Friday in Lubbock, recording a nation-leading time of 45.73 (adjusted to 45.84 for national rankings) to set a new facility and meet record and take the title at the Texas Tech Classic. In addition to winning the 400, London anchored the Bears' 4x400-meter relay team that finished second with a time of 3:04.76 (adjusted to 3:05.20 to rank No. 5 in the country).
"Wil is an outstanding young man," head coach Todd Harbour said. "He is a leader and captain on this team. It's a very well-deserved honor."
London currently holds the No. 3 all-time indoor perfomer spot in Baylor history, with only Jeremy Wariner and Brandon Couts having faster times in the 400 meters.
The Big 12 weekly award is the second of London's career (first indoor), and the first since April 13, 2016, his freshman outdoor season. It is the ninth men's indoor track & field athlete of the week for Baylor, and the 40th overall (men's and women's indoor/outdoor) for Baylor track & field since 2002.
"I've always followed Baylor track & field legacy," London said. "To be up there with the great guys that have come before me is great. I can follow in their footsteps and create a legacy of my own."
London and the Bears are off this weekend before heading to the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., and the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa, Feb. 8-9.
