MTSU music professor wins gold, silver at masters world track and field competition

MTSU’s William Yelverton won a world championship gold medal and a silver medal at the Indoor World Masters Athletic Championships, in Daegu, South Korea, in late March.

A professor of guitar at MTSU’s School of Music in his 28th year, Yelverton has in recent years competed in masters level track and field events on the national and international level.

During the world championships held March 21-25, Yelverton won gold in the M55 200-meter event with a time of 24.82, and silver in the 400-meters with a time of 55.17. His 400-meter time was the fastest by an American in the men’s 55-59 age group in nine years on the indoor 200-meter oval. WMAC 2017 is the world indoor track and field championship event for masters athletes. This year’s event included 4,700 athletes from 75 countries.

Also, Yelverton won his fourth consecutive USATF National Masters 400m Championship in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Feb. 17-18. It was his fifth overall national championship since beginning masters track competition at age 51, three indoor and two outdoor, all in the 400-meter sprint. Yelverton said his 400-meter time in Daegu was his fastest 400-meter race in a championship event. He has won four individual medals in world championship competition, since his first world meet