National Signing Day Wednesday, Feb. 6, reached out to Auburn High School, as senior Tierra Williams signed to participate in track and field for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Huskers.

She is the first Husker recruit from Auburn since Chris Kelsay in 1998 and the first female Husker recruit from the Bulldogs since Theresa Stelling in 1990.
Williams was contacted by officials of other NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics colleges throughout last year and this year.

Auburn High School officials said preparation for track and field season has begun with a daily workout designed for her, mentally preparing to improve her running times and to jump further than her personal best of 19’2-1/4”.
In her first three seasons for the Auburn Bulldogs, Williams won nine medals at the Class B state track and field meet.
In 2010, she won the bronze medal in the long jump; placed sixth in the 200 and seventh in the 100. In 2011, Williams won the gold medal in the long jump and placed fifth in the 100. In 2012, she won the gold medal in the 100 and the triple jump; took the silver medal in the long jump and captured the bronze in the 200.
Williams is the school record holder in the 100, 200, 400, long jump and triple jump.
She moved to Auburn while in fifth grade, the year she began participating in Auburn Track Club.
Besides track and field, Williams last fall was named honorable mention Class C-1 All-State in volleyball by the sports staffs of the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star. She played volleyball three years. Williams led the Bulldog volleyball team in ace blocks and hitting percentage; and was second in kills, assisted blocks and serve receive rating.
Other activities include four years of basketball, four years of cheerleading, three years of Future Business Leaders of America and the Life of an Athlete leadership program.
Keeping good grades and competing well at the NCAA Division I level are Williams’ college goals, school officials said. She plans to compete in the long jump.
While Williams plans to enter her freshman year at UNL undecided, school officials said she has an interest in dental hygiene. Williams’ favorite school subjects include mathematics and business.
Coach Pepin’s Comments
“I’m very pleased that Tierra signed with our University.  I believe she is a fine young athlete with a strong collegiate future ahead of her. Tierra it appears, early on in her career, has the physical tools to be a strong horizontal jumper/short sprinter. We will test her in many facets in early training and put her in the events she likes and that appear will be the best events for her to have the greatest success in,” said Gary Pepin, head Husker track and field coach.
Since 2000, Pepin’s squads have combined to win one Big Ten team title, 19 Big 12 team titles, 11 individual Big Ten titles, 143 individual Big 12 titles, 19 individual NCAA titles and have finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships 12 times, including a tie for fifth at the men’s indoor meet in 2009. Pepin was honored as the 2012 Big Ten Indoor Women’s Coach of the Year for guiding the Husker women to their first conference team title as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Huskers recorded 11 conference titles in 2012 and 11 first-team All-America honors.