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Saturday, March 15
Team Notes:
Men's Final Team Rankings
================================================================================
1) Arizona State 44 2) Florida State 41
3) Texas 34 4) LSU 33
5) Tennessee 26 6) Arkansas 24
7) Stanford 23 8) Florida 19
9) Northern Iowa 18 10) Washington 17
10) Texas A&M 17 12) Texas Christian 14
12) Clemson 14 14) UCLA 13.50
15) Oklahoma 13 15) Oral Roberts 13
17) Nebraska 12 17) Georgetown 12
19) Baylor 11 19) Idaho 11
19) Oregon 11 22) Kansas 10
22) Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 10 22) Cal State-Northridge 10
22) Binghamton University 10 26) Brigham Young 9.50
Women's Final Team Rankings
================================================================================
1) Arizona State 51 2) LSU 43
3) Michigan 39 4) Texas 35
5) Stanford 32 6) Florida State 28
7) Texas A&M 23 8) Florida 19
8) Tennessee 19 10) Virginia Tech 18
10) Texas Tech 18 10) Kansas 18
13) Texas-El Paso 17 13) Mississippi 17
15) Penn State 16 15) Minnesota 16
17) Montana State 10 17) Washington State 10
17) Southern Illinois 10 17) Miami 10
21) North Carolina 9.50 22) Purdue 9
22) Arizona 9 22) Washington 9
25) Michigan State 8 25) Alabama 8
Finals Notes:
• Men's Heptathlon [results]
Florida State received another huge boost in the team title race as freshman Gonzalo Barroilhet won the heptathlon title with a tally of 5,951 points. After the event, the Seminoles remained in first with 36 points over second place Tennessee at 24. The Vols hoped to get more points out of Jangy Addy who could only manage fifth overall at 5,683 points. Stanford's Josh Hustedt finished second at 5,836 and Florida's Mike Morrison was third with 5,792.
• Women's Pentathlon [results]
Jacquelyn Johnson kept Arizona State in the race as the senior scored a collegiate record 4,496 to win the pentathlon. Michigan got a big 8 points out of Bettie Wade who finished second with 4,336. Shevell Quinley placed third with her score of 4,256.
• Men's Weight Throw [results]
Egor Agafonov of Kansas proved to be too much of a force in the weight throw as the Russian took home the prize with his mark of 74-06.25 (22.71m). Jake Dunkleberger of Auburn placed second with a throw of 72-11.75 (22.24m) while North Carolina freshman Walter Henning was third at 72-03 (22.02m).
• Women's Shot Put [results]
Florida's Mariam Kevkhishvili hit 58-06 (17.83m) to come away with the women's shot put. Looking at the team race, Arizona State put in 12 points behind Sarah Stevens' second-place mark of 57-10.50 (17.64m) and Jessica Pressley's fifth-place heave of 55-00.25 (16.77m). Patience Knight of Texas Tech managed to get third with her throw of 56-08 (17.27m).
• Men's High Jump [results]
Did anyone expect anything but a Big 12 showdown? Nebraska's Dusty Jonas cleared Kansas State's Scott Sellers for the title, 7-07 (2.31m) to 7-04.50 (2.25m). Jonas pushed the bar up with three attempts at 7-08 (2.34m) and came very close on his first attempt.
• Women's Pole Vault [results]
Ellie Rudy of Montana State was the top vaulter of the day with her 14-01.25 (4.30m) performance. Arizona State turned to April Kubishta for big points as the senior delivered with her second-place height that matched Rudy's. Kate Sultanova of Kansas cleared 13-11.25 (4.25m) for third place.
• Men's Triple Jump [results]
The lone Arkansas bright spot of the weekend went to Nkosinza Balumbu who hit 54-03.25 (16.54m) for the triple jump title. Tydree Lewis of Oklahoma earned a mark of 54-02.50 (16.52m) for second while Jonathan Jackson TCU leaped to 53-06.50 (16.32m) for third place.
• Women's Triple Jump [results]
Stanford's Erica McLain broke her own American collegite record with a mark of 46-07.25 (14.20m) on her first attempt of the night. Florida State freshman Kimberly Williams grabbed second with her mark of 45-04.25 (13.82m). LSU fans were biting their nails wondering if Andrea Linton could help the cause in the team race. As it turned out, the junior could not score which left the title to Arizona State even heading into the 4x400m relay.
• Men's Mile Run [results]
Leonel Manzano took the title once again for Texas in 4:04.45 while also splitting 3:49.8 at 1,500m. The Longhorns got a big boost in the team chace behind Jake Morse as he earned second with his time of 4:04.88. Oregon's Andrew Acosta rounded out the top three at 4:04.90.
• Women's Mile Run [results]
Hannah England held off a tough field including Nicole Edwards and Sarah Bowman to capture the title in 4:35.30. Edwards got the important 8 points for Michigan in 4:35.74 but it was not enough in the end. Bowman clocked 4:36.00 for third.
• Men's 800m [results]
It was quite the move by Tyler Mulder of Northern Iowa on the final homestretch as the junior took the title in 1:49.20. LSU's Elkana Kosgei had the lead heading into the final turn but could not hold off Mulder. Kosgei ran across the line in 1:49.47 for second while Ross Ridgewell of Georgia placed third in 1:49.52.
• Women's 800m [results]
At the time, it appeared to be a huge win for LSU as Latavia Thomas claimed the title in 2:05.07. With the women's team race tight at the time, Thomas' time looked to put the lady Tigers over the top. Heather Dorniden of Minnesota recorded 2:05.45 for second and Alysia Johnson of Cal, the 2007 Champion, grabbed third in 2:05.47. Michigan suffered a blow in the team race here as Geena Gall could only muster 5 points with her time of 2:05.79.
• Men's 400m [results]
This is the event where everyone thought Arizona State had a chance to win. Joel Phillip stepped up big time to take second and score 8 points for the Sun Devils with his 46.27 performance. Teammate Jimmie Gordon even added a point to the race with his eighth place finish. The event title went to Andretti Bain of Oral Roberts who clocked 46.19 around the oval twice. Jordan Boase of Washington placed third with his time of 46.34.
• Women's 400m [results]
Miami's Krista Simkins, after running sub-52 in the prelims on Friday, held her ground once again to take the title on Saturday in 52.16. Trish Bartholomew of Alabama took second in 52.37 and freshman Jessica Beard of Texas A&M was third in 52.48.
• Men's 60m [results]
Speed was certainly in session for LSU. The Tigers wrapped up the top two spots as Richard Thompson clocked 6.51 to tie his own NCAA meet record set in the prelims on Friday and Trindon Holliday was second with a time of 6.54. Clemson's Travis Padgett clocked 6.60 for third.
• Women's 60m [results]
The lady Tigers of LSU still appeared to be in the drivers seat after the 60 as they tallied 14 points behind Kelly-Ann Baptiste's title in 7.163 and Samantha Henry's fifth place time at 7.24. Texas wrapped up 14 points themselves as Alexandria Anderson just finished behind Baptiste in 7.169 and freshman Bianca Knight's third place time in 7.21. At the time, it appeared as though LSU had the team title in their hands.
• Men's 3,000m [results]
Perhaps the most exciting finish of the entire meet in terms of the team race was the 3,000 meters. Florida State held a good lead over Arizona State. Kyle Alcorn decided to take the entire team race in his hands by winning the event in 8:00.82 and scoring a big 10 points for the Sun Devils. After Alcorn's big win, they knew all they had to do was at least defeat the Seminoles in the 4x400m as the score was tied at 38 points. Georgetown's Andrew Bumbalough took second with his time of 8:02.22 and BYU's Kyle Perry placed third in 8:02.63.
• Women's 3,000m [results]
It was a three-person race with Susan Kuijken, Brie Felnagle and Arianna Lambie. Kuijken ended up taking the title for Florida State in 8:58.14 as the only sub-9 minute athlete in the field. Felnagle crossed the line in 9:00.31 while Lambie clocked 9:05.41.
• Men's 4x400m [results]
Talk about a tense race. It all came down to Arizona State or Florida State. Two sunshine state programs battling for an indoor title and the score was tied at 38. Whoever ran a faster time (they competed in seperate heats) would win the team title. Running in the third heat, Arizona State knew they had to run faster than Florida State's 3:07.47 from back in the first heat to win and they certainly managed to come through. The Sun Devils clocked 3:06.34 and the team title was theirs. Baylor took the overal event title yet again with their time of 3:05.66.
• Women's 4x400m [results]
Heading into the final event of the weekend, the Sun Devils already knew they clinched the team title as they led LSU, 45-33. Both still raced the event as favorite LSU took the relay in 3:31.14. Arizona State still ran very well with their third place finish at 3:33.63. Texas A&M notched second place with their time of 3:31.34. In the end, Arizona State won the team title over LSU, 51-43.
Second Day recap, by Eric of Athletics in the News
 Arizona State's Jacquelyn Johnson set a collegiate record in the pentathlon (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport) |
The two-day NCAA Championships held at the University of Arkansas' Randal Tyson Indoor Center concluded on Saturday with another collegiate record, several outstanding performances by athletes who were expected to star in front of their collegiate peers, and performances by others who stepped up and made names for themselves as they chased legends from the past - and those attempting to be legendary.
If the fireworks produced by the break-neck competitions on Friday weren't enough for track and field-crazed fans watching the live streaming broadcast, following the live blog Trackshark.com was feeding or reading the results on this site, Saturday would put an exclamation point on a very good week-end of eye-popping competition and a sense of personal despair for those expected to win, but didn't.
Friday's competition concluded with two new collegiate records along with a World Junior Record, with Arizona State's Ryan Whiting removing a 21-year-old shot put record from the books, and Bianca Knight obliterating the world junior, NCAA and her school record in the 200m in a race which saw the first three athletes across the line run faster than the previous world best at the distance.
Saturday's offering picked right up where the previous evening had left off, namely with a collegiate record, a near-record, certain athletes defending their coveted national titles and another heavy favourite coming up short in their specialty.
Arizona State's Jacquelin Johnson, trailing the University of Michigan's Bettie Wade by 17 points at the conclusion of the third event in the pentathlon - the shot put, had a huge upswing in the long jump and 800m, and concluded her single-day competition with a new NCAA Indoor record, scoring 4496 points to eclipse Austra Skujuté's six-year-old NCAA mark set in Manhattan, Kansas.
Johnson, the reigning indoor pentathlon and outdoor heptathlon champion - and 2008 national leader heading into the championships at 4312 points, ran a very solid 800m race to remove Sjujuté, who competed at last week-end's IAAF World Indoor Championships, from the top of the indoor totem pole by 51 points.
Stanford's Erica McLain nearly toppled Sheila Hudson's American record in the triple jump, falling 3cm short of tying the mark the former CAL standout set 13 years ago, jumping 14.20m to win her event by 38cm over Kimberly Williams (Florida State).
 LSU's Richard Thompson blazed the 60m track in an NCAA meet record time of 6.51 seconds (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport) |
Scott Sellers, who has shown incredible promise as a high jumpers since his grade-10 in high school, had not yet found the winning strategy or had the extra stroke of luck indoors during his first two seasons, finishing in ninth (2.19m) two years ago and third last season (2.22m).
Sellers would again come up empty-handed in Arkansas, taking silver on Saturday afternoon to Nebraska's Dusty Jonas, who cleared a lifetime best of 2.31m in improving his lifetime best by 5cm and, for the second-consecutive season, finishing one spot higher than Sellers.
Jonas' mark is also the highest any Cornhusker has ever jumped indoors or outdoors in school history.
Arkansas team captain Nkozinzu Balumbu, third in the NCAA indoor triple jump last season, and third on the 2008 list-leaders, came through with the biggest performance of his life, jumping 16.54m in the second flight to win his first NCAA indoor title.
Oklahoman Tydree Lewis led the first flight with a 16.52m effort - a mark which Balumbu beat on his first-round jump in the second flight and secured himself the victory.
Competing in Arkansas is about the middle distances as much as it is for the sprints on the fabled track, and Texan Leonel Manzano, previewed on this site two days ago, came up with his second-consecutive NCAA mile title on Saturday.
Manzano won a slow, yet highly tactical race against good kickers, in 4.04,45 to lead teammate Jake Morse (4.04,88) to a 1-2 finish and provide Texas 18 important points in the team competition, in which Texas finished with third - its highest ever indoors.
The Arizona State Sun Devils won the team competition for the first time indoors to compliment the women's team, which won their second-consecutive title. The sweep atop the school standings was the second in NCAA history following LSU's feat in 2003. LSU's women, who finished second to ASU in 2007, finished behind the Sun Devils again this season, 51-43.
LSU athletes swept the top-2 spots in the men's 60m dash, with senior Richards Thompson (6,51) holding off sophomore teammate and football star Trindon Holliday, second in 6,54. Clemson's Travis Padget, the 2007 champion (6,56), had to settle for bronze this time around, sprinting to a time of 6,60 seconds.
 Florida State's Susan Kuijken came away with the 3,000 meter title in 8:58.14 (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport) |
The stadium was buzzing with excitement as Thompson won his preliminary heat in 6,51 seconds, tying the world lead heading into the final.
Thompson wasn't the only LSU star on the podium on Saturday, however, as Kelly-Ann Baptiste won a virtual dead-heat with Texas' Alexandria Anderson, clocking 7,17 seconds to follow Thompson's victory and become part of the first duo in the history of the NCAA Indoor Championships to win 60m titles from the same university.
Both Thompson and Baptiste became first-time NCAA indoor champions in the process.
LSU added a third national champion to its merit list on Saturday when sophomore LaTavia Thompson pulled through for the Lady Tigers to win the women's 800m run, clocking 2.05,07. Cal's Alysia Johnson, the 2007 NCAA Indoor Champion, finished second (2.05,47).
The NCAA Indoor Championships is about celebrating victory as much as chasing the harmony between mind and body, and Florida State's Susan Kuijken broke through two barriers simultaneously in the 3.000m, winning her first national indoor title and stopping the clock under the nine-minute barrier (8.58,14).
Kuijken had earlier lost her two-week-old school mile record (4.36,31) to teammate Hannah England, who blasted a final lap segment of 29,99 to score victory over national-leader Nicole Edwards, 4.35,30 to 4.35,74. Tennessee's Sarah Bowman grabbed the bronze in the mile, running 4.36,00.
Liberty senior Josh McDougal was not as fortunate in his rebound attempt from a hard 5.000m contested on Friday evening, placing sixth in another tactical middle distance race - one which Arizona's Kyle Alcorn was able to steal from the milers in 8.00,82.
Montana State's Ellie Rudy had only one miss through four jumps leading up to 4.30m in the pole vault, and took her second-consecutive national indoor title, clearing the same height she won at in 2007. Arizona State's April Kubishta also cleared 4.30m, but won the silver on misses.
When one thinks of 4x400m racing, Baylor University often comes to mind - and for good measure. Baylor won its third-consecutive relay title on Saturday, with a quartet consisting of Trey Harts (47,1), Marcus Boyd (46,8), Justin Boyd (46,5) and LeJerald Betters (45,3) crossing the line in a fine 3.05,66.
Baylor did not have any athletes in the men's 400m dash, but that did not stop Oral Roberts' Andretti Bain from running the fastest time of the evening, 46,19, in the second section to claim national honours.
Krista Simkins (Miami) captured the women's 400m dash in 52,16.
Live Blog archive from Saturday night:
Friday, March 14
Team Notes:
• Men: LSU appears to be the team in charge heading into Saturday, although Florida State, Texas, Arizona State and Tennessee are potential favorites as well. It's still too close to call at this point and amazing for the Seminoles considering that Walter Dix could not compete.
• Women: It's definately a three-team affair now with Arizona State, LSU and Michigan. Tennessee really hurt their chances by not qualifying anyone for Saturday's 60 meter final and only scoring one point in the 200 meter final.
Prelim Notes:
• Men's 60m: Richard Thompson of LSU set a meet record at 6.51. Teammate Trindon Holliday was second in 6.55.
• Women's 60m: Bianca Knight of Texas had the top time in 7.16. Tennessee did not advance anyone to the final.
• Men's Heptathlon: Florida State's Gonzalo Barroilhet leads after day one with 3,265 points.
• Men's 800m: Jacob Hernandez of Texas was DQ'd for a lane violation. LSU's Elkana Kosgei had the top time in 1:49.03.
• Women's 800m: LSU's Latavia Thomas clocked 2:06.30 for the top time. Michigan's Geena Gall went 2:07.36.
• Men's 400m: Andretti Bain of Oral Roberts nearly broke 46 seconds with his top time of 46.02.
• Women's 400m: Miami's Krista Simkins clocked the fastest time in the country at 51.95.
• Men's Mile: Sam Bair of Pitt will compete in the final after he was shoved. Stanford's Garrett Heath had the top time in 4:05.22.
• Women's Mile: Sarah Bowman of Tennessee, who later anchored the winning DMR, clocked 4:41.04 for the fastest time.
Finals Notes:
• Women's Weight Throw [results]
As expected, Brittany Riley of Southern Illinois dominated the event by winning over 10 feet to the next competitor with her throw of 83-01.75 (25.34m). Riley holds the American and collegiate record in the event with a mark of 83-10.25 (25.56m) set at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Championships. Jessica Pressley came up big for Arizona State to grab second with her toss of 72-03.75 (22.04m). The senior notched 8 points for the Sun Devils although Sarah Stevens failed to score with her ninth place finish. Astin Steward of Purdue and Veronica Jatsek of Ohio State took home third and fourth as the remaining athletes to hit over 70-feet.
• Women's High Jump [results]
In somewhat of an upset, Washington State freshman Ebba Jungmark took charge of the event by clearing 6-02.25 (1.89m) for the title. Heading into the event as the favorite, Sharon Day of Cal Poly-SLO managed to take second with her 6-01.25 performance. Brittney Reese of Ole Miss, who also won the long jump in 22-02.25 (6.76m), placed third with her clearance of 6-01.25.
• Men's Shot Put [results]
There is a new collegiate record holder in the men's shot put -- and he's only a sophomore. Arizona State's Ryan Whiting accomplished such a feat by winning the event with his heave of 71-03.50 (21.73m). The mark betters the old record by Stanford's Terry Albritton of 21.50m which stood for over 20 years. Idaho's Russ Winger placed second at 69-10.25 and Milan Jotanovic of Manhattan took third with his throw of 64-05.25.
• Men's Long Jump [results]
Reindell Cole, just a freshman from Cal State Northridge, claimed the long jump on his first attempt of the afternoon with his leap of 26-07.75 (8.12m). Norris Frederick of Washington placed second at 26-02.75 while another freshman, Ngonidzashe Makusha of Florida State took third in 26-01.75.
• Women's Long Jump [results]
She's been dominating the event all season and today's final proved no different. Brittney Reese of Ole Miss captured the long jump title with her mark of 22-02.25 (6.76m). Blessing Okagbare of UTEP took second in 21-11 and Natasha Harvey of Jacksonville was third in 21-08. Stanford was hoping to score big points in this event, as only Erica McLain managed to score five points with her fourth place finish at 21-04. Arizona State, however, got a big boost from Jacquelyn Johnson and Stephanie Garnett as the duo combined to score 7 points for the Sun Devils.
• Men's Pole Vault [results]
Many considered him as the favorite and Rory Quiller of Bighamton took the title. The post-grad cleared 18-00.50 (5.50m) for the win and also took three shots at 18-08.25 but failed to clear on all attempts. The next four men all cleared 17-08.50, while misses determined the fates for Clemson's Mitch Greeley in second, Texas' Maston Wallace in third and Stanford's Graeme Hoste in fourth. Wallace gave the Longhorns a big boost in the team race with his 5 points.
• Men's 60m Hurdles [results]
Even with the absense of Walter Dix in the 200 meters, Florida State got a big boost in the hurdles to rack up 10 points behind Drew Brunson's title in 7.527. South Carolina's Jason Richardson just got second with his time of 7.530. Ronald Forbes of Florida International was third in 7.58. Ryan Fontenot of LSU and Ty Akins of Auburn were each charged with a false start and could not compete in the final.
• Men's 5,000m [results]
It just wasn't Josh McDougal's night. The NCAA Cross Country Champion could not outkick the other top runners as the favorite heading into the race finished sixth at 13:58.62. Shadrack Songok of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ran relaxed the entire race and had the strong sprint in the end to take the title in 13:51.26. Jacob Korir of Eastern Kentucky finished third in 13:52.91, Sean Quigley of LaSalle was fourth in 13:54.05 and Mark Korir of Wyoming placed fifth in 13:57.87.
• Women's 60m Hurdles [results]
Tiffany Ofili of Michigan took the title with a new collegiate leading time of 7.94. It was actually the first time that anyone dipped under 8 seconds this season.
• Women's 5,000m [results]
Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech breezed to another 5,000 meter title in 15:31.91. The junior led from start to finish in what was a true battle for second place. Iowa State's Lisa Koll took that chance while grabbing the silver in 15:54.90. Duke's Maddie McKeever was third in 15:58.18 as the last runner to dip under 16 minutes.
• Men's 200m [results]
Rubin Williams has been on fire all season long and today proved no different. The senior from Tennessee blazed the track with a winning time of 20.36 which broke the old Vols record of 20.42 posted by Justin Gatlin in 2002. In all, the Vols scored 13 points as Evander Wells also placed sixth. Florida State's Charles Clark took second in 20.50 while J-Mee Samuels won the opening heat in 20.67 for third overall. Walter Dix of Florida State was a late scratch from the meet due to an illness.
• Women's 200m [results]
Another collegiate record went down today as freshman Bianca Knight of Texas clocked 22.40 for the win. Knight's time is the second fastest in American history and seventh-fastest in the world overall. Nickesha Anderson of Kansas took second in 22.62 and Knight's teammate, Alexandria Anderson, finished third in 22.81. This event was a huge lift for the Longhorns as they came away with 16 points.
• Men's DMR [results]
They set a World Record earlier in the season. All they had left to accomplish was an NCAA title. Texas did exactly that thanks to a great anchor leg by Leonel Manzano who led the Longhorns to a first-place time of 9:32.04. Arizona State's Kyle Alcorn gave Manzano a ride for his money, but could not withstand the kick as he was still able to push the Sun Devils to second in 9:32.49. Wisconsin, Stanford and Georgetown rounded out the top five.
• Women's DMR [results]
Sarah Bowman of Tennessee ran one of the more memorable anchor legs in recent memory to help lead the Vols to the title in 11:01.97. Michigan had the lead with one lap to go, while Bowman burned the final 400 meters to help Tennesse for the title. Michigan, perhaps the favorite entering the event, finished second in 11:02.22 while Stanford took third in 11:03.87.
First Day recap, by Eric of Athletics in the News
The two-day NCAA Championships got underway on Friday, and there were no less than two collegiate records and several all-time marks set in the finals at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track Center on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.
Record Day For Whiting in Shot
 Ryan Whiting set a new collegiate record in the shot put (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport) |
Arizona State's Ryan Whiting set off the record evening by winning the shot put with a massive toss of 21.73m, a mark which bettered by 23cm the previous NCAA record set 21 years ago, and also established a new NCAA Championship record.
Whiting took the lead on his first heave, and saved his record-setting toss for his last. Whiting found himself in second place following his first flight, however, as Idaho's Russ Winger was able to muster a 21.29m put in the second flight and threaten to put an end to Whiting's hope of winning his first NCAA title.
Whiting's series: 20.18m; 21.12m; FOUL; 20.23m; 20.69m; 21.73m.
Whiting, a redshirt sophomore out of Harrisburg, Pennyslvania, had a personal best of 20.01m when the season began. His winning mark on Friday propelled him up to being the the third-best performer in the world indoors in 2008, trailing only world leader Adam Nelson (22.40), and IAAF World Indoor Champion Christian Cantwell (22.18) - two athletes who hold the top-four marks in the world this season.
Stanford's Terri Albritton held the previous NCAA Indoor shot put record, having heaved a massive 21.50m in 1977. This marked the second time in as many attempts that Whiting had moved close to - or past - Albritton.
Whiting set a MPSF conference and stadium record in the shot put in recording a personal best of 21.47 metres two weeks ago, and had taken down Winger's stadium record (20.28m) in the process.
Whiting's mark at the MPSF Conference Champions was the second-best mark in Pac-10 history, trailing only Albritton's 21.50m.
Texas Sprinter Knight Sets CR in 200m
 Bianca Knight set a new collegiate record in the 200m (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport) |
Texas freshman Bianca Knight, competing in her first collegiate national championships, showed that she had great things in store for fans following a 22,48 preliminary round - a time which took over the world lead from Porscha Lucas, who had run 22,86 two weeks ago at the Big-12 Championships in Lincoln.
Knight returned two hours later to improve on her personal best, churing out an incredible 22,40 to become the second-fastest American ever at the distance behind three-time Olympic gold medalist Gwen Torrence's 22,33 set 12 years ago in Atlanta, Georgia.
Knight's time of 22,40 also established a new World Junior record, taking 0,09 seconds off of Sanya Richards's previous mark, and also knocked Richards off the top of the Texas 200m indoor all-time list.
Knight's time also set new a new NCAA Championship record and set the Randal Tyson track record, eclipsing Veronica Campbell's time of 22,43 set four years ago.
Knight, a 23-time Misssissippi state titlist as a prep at Ridgeland High School, had high hopes for her first NCAA race.
"There was a plan for me and my teammate Alexandria Anderson to finish one-two," University of Texas's track report states.
"We put our faith in each other, and if I didn't get it done, she was to get it done. I wanted to spice things up, and I don't know if a freshman has ever won nationals, but if not, I wanted to be the first."
Knight was able to exact a bit of revenge on her rival, Lucas, as well, as she had finished a distant fifth (23,21) to her at the conference championships. Lucas finished fourth on Friday, timed in 22,83 seconds - a race which saw the top-four women run under Lucas' previous world leading mark.
Tennessee's Bowman Runs Brave DMR Anchor
 Tennessee captured the DMR led by Sarah Bowman (Spencer Allen) |
One of the evening's most-anticipated highlights was thought to be the expected men's Distance Medley match-up between world indoor record-holders Texas against the likes of Stanford and Arkansas.
Whilst Texas did win their first NCAA indoor title (9.32,04), it was the women's Distance Medley Relay which provided the most thrilling action and drama of the two races.
Stanford's Lauren Centrowitz got the race off to a great start after leading the opening 1.200 meter segment in 3.25,5, and handed the baton off to teammate Idara Otu (54,6 for her 400m split). Tennessee was in the hunt in fifth place after freshman Brittany Sheffey split a 3.26, but brought itself even with Stanford following freshman Brittany Jones's sensational 400m segment heading into the third leg, an 800m distance.
Stanford's Alicia Follmar's split of 2.08,8 was not enough to keep Stanford at the helm, however, as Tennessee's sophomore sensation Phoebe Wright ran an excellent race, as did the University of Michigan's Geena Gall. Hall's tactical savvy brought Michigan the stick around in first place with anchor leg Nicole Edwards, the collegiate mile leader at 4.33,23, ready to take stave off challenges from Tennessee's Sarah Bowman and Stanford's Arianna Lambie.
Michigan and Tennessee opened up a lead on the rest of the field during the first half of the anchor leg, but Lambie worked her way up to the lead pack before making a decisive and commanding surge for the lead with just over two laps to go. Her move was a costly one, however, as Bowman, who was biding her time behind Edwards, blew past with 130m remaining and helped secure Tennessee's victory by splitting 4.35,3. Edwards (4.36,1), a Canadian, held off Lambie (4.34,8 split) for second, with the Standford troop finishing in third.
Tennessee's winning time of 11.01,97 set a new school record. Michigan finished with a time of 11.02,22. Stanford's third-place time of 11.03,87 was the second-fastest in Stanford history.
Villanova University set the collegiate record (10.54,34) 20 years ago, with a team of Celeste Halliday (2.06,8), Michelle DiMuro-Ave (56,1), Kathy Franey (3.22,7) and Vicki Huber (4.28,8) achieving their mark in Gainesville, Florida.
Williams Takes Advantage of Tyson Track
Tennessee senior Rubin Williams won the 200m dash in 20,36 and set a new school record in the process, taking 0,06 seconds off of Justin Gatlin's previous indoor collegiate best. Williams, who had run a collegiate-leading 20,55 at the same venue two weeks ago, finishes the season as the second-fastest 200m runner in the world indoors this year.
Other Action on the Track
In other action, Josh McDougal, who was featured on this blog's front page yesterday, finished out of the running in the men's 5.000m, placing sixth (13.58,62). McDougal may find redemption in today's 3.000m, but will be hard-pressed to out-kick Villanova's Bobby Curtis, the collegiate leader at 7.50,17.
Southern Illinois weight star Brittney Riley won her speciality (25,34m), as did long jumper Brittney Reese of Ole Miss (6,76m).
Texas Tech's Sally Kipkego thrashed the women's 5.000m field, running a world-leading 15.31,91. Providence's Kim Smith holds the collegiate record at 15.14,18.
Finally, Sweden's own Ebba Jungmark won the high jump by clearing 1.89m, and became the first Swedish woman to win an indoor title in this event. World indoor record-holder (2.08m) Kajsa Bergqvist took home two outdoor titles whilst at SMU, but was never able to finish higher than second indoors (1.91m in Indianapolis in 1998).
Live Blog archive from Friday night:
Previous Trackshark Coverage:
• 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships
• 2007 NCAA Indoor Championships
• 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships
• 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships
• 2005 NCAA Outdoor Championships
• 2005 NCAA Indoor Championships
• 2004 NCAA Outdoor Championships
• 2004 NCAA Indoor Championships
• 2003 NCAA Outdoor Championships
• 2003 NCAA Indoor Championships
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