ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, March 10-11 — It was an Arkansas kind of weekend at the NCAA Indoor Championships as the Razorbacks claimed both team titles. The men did it in a runaway while the women had to wait until the climactic 4×4 to wrap things up.
With 1512m of altitude providing help, it was a meet to remember on the speed side of things, with record-setting sprints, hurdles, horizontal jumps and multis.
Our coverage of the NCAA Indoor is divided into 4 parts: men’s track & field and women’s track & field.
The men’s track events:
Teams — Arkansas Completes Team Double
Following on a win by the Razorback women earlier in the evening, favored Arkansas captured its 21st title and its second under coach Chris Bucknam, who also guided the team winner in ’13.
“We know in the back of our mind that we’re the No. 1 team in the country,” Bucknam said before the meet, noting no win is a given. “It comes down to star power and how your star power performs at this particular meet,” he said. “Everything is on a more heightened alert.“
Heightened enough for Arkansas to triumph with 63 points over Georgia (40, powered by wins in the 200, 400 and heptathlon), Florida (34) and Washington (31) with Texas Tech (29) rounding out the top 5.
While Arkansas won the 4×4 over Georgia, the team outcome was already settled, yet the 44.14 anchor by Chris Bailey, the second-fastest-ever indoor split, was emblematic of what Bucknam meant by “star power.”
The Razorbacks carried 20 points out of Day 1. Long jumper Carey McLeod scored a win with defending champ Wayne Pinnock 4th and distance runners in the 5000 and DMR chipped in 5.
On Day 2 the heptathlon had wrapped first netting 11 Razorback points from runnerup Ayden Owens-Delerme — surpassing the previous CR — and Yariel Soto Torrado.
But when frosh triple jumper Jaydon Hibbert leapt a Collegiate Record to ice the comp in round 1, Arkansas’ roll to the title looked increasingly assured. Hibbert, McLeod (6th in the TJ) and Pinnock are all Jamaicans and alumni of the same high school.
Putter Jordan West (5th), Bailey in the 400 (5th) and Lance Lang in the 200 (8th) contributed 9 points to complete the Arkansas tally. /Sieg Lindstrom/
TEAM SCORES
1. Arkansas 63;
2. Georgia 40;
3. Florida 34;
4. Washington 31;
5. Texas Tech 29;
6. tie, Oklahoma State & Texas 25;
8. Nebraska 24¾;
9. tie, Alabama & Northern Arizona 19;
11. Tennessee 18; 12. tie, BYU & Mississippi 17; 14. Florida State 16; 15. Clemson 15; 16. Wisconsin 14; 17. Baylor 13; 18. Kansas 11½; 19. tie, Arizona State, Kentucky & Mississippi State 11; 22. Louisville 10½; 23. tie, Arizona, Kennesaw State, Princeton, South Florida & USC 10; 28. Virginia 9; 29. tie, Drake, Fairleigh Dickinson & Oklahoma 8; 32. tie, Michigan State, NC State, North Carolina, Stanford & Texas A&M 7; 37. tie, Miami, Penn State, South Alabama & South Carolina 6; 41. tie, Houston, Ohio State & Syracuse 5; 44. tie, Indiana & Iowa 4; 46. tie, Auburn & Cincinnati 3; 48. tie, Butler, Eastern Michigan, LSU, Northern Colorado & Oregon 2; 53. Illinois 1; 54. tie, Louisiana–Monroe, Missouri & Wichita State ¾ (30 competed, did not score).
60 Meters — Terrence Jones (Texas Tech) 6.46
Enigmatic Bahamian Terrence Jones came almost out of nowhere in ’22 to set the socials on fire with a CR-equaling 6.45 at Lubbock that produced more questions than answers, given a quick-fire start that many believed was just a bit too quick. It didn’t help matters much when he fell victim to a false start DQ at the NCAA, his only other indoor 60 of the season.
The Bahamian, a ’19 World Championships qualifier in the 200, answered all the questions and more with a dominant 6.46 on the lightning-quick straight at Albuquerque to capture his first NCAA title and Texas Tech’s first indoor sprint gold.
A so-so start in the final was followed by a superb mid-race surge that saw him put a meter on a field that was missing Auburn’s Favour Ashe, who irritated a previous injury in the heats.
Ashe had the fastest time in the prelims with a 6.51, but in his absence the remaining spots on the podium were wide open. Kentucky frosh Jordan Anthony, last year’s top prep prospect, followed up on a 6.54 in the prelims with a solid 6.55 to take the runner-up spot, with Florida’s PJ Austin a surprise bronze medalist after clocking a PR 6.53 in the heats. Anthony’s 6.54 moved him to No. 4 on the all-time world U20 list and No. 2 among Americans.
ACC champion Ismael Kone was among the pre-meet favorites but couldn’t reproduce the form that saw him to a 6.51 in early January and ended up 5th. /Glen McMicken/
FINAL
1. **Terrence Jones’ (TxT-Bah) 6.46 (=CL) (x, =4 C);
2. ***Jordan Anthony (Ky) 6.55;
3. PJ Austin (Fl) 6.56;
4. *Shaun Maswanganyi’ (Hous-SA) 6.57;
5. Ismael Kone’ (FlSt-CI) 6.58;
6. Alex Lang (NCSt) 6.59;
7. Lawrence Johnson (Wi) 6.59;
… dnc—**Favour Ashe’ (Aub-Ngr).
HEATS
I–1. Ashe’ 6.51; 2. Maswanganyi’ 6.56 PR; 3. Kone’ 6.57; 4. Lang 6.58; 5. JaVaughn Moore (InSt) 6.59; 6. Don’dre Swint (TxT) 6.59; 7. *Marcellus Moore (Tx) 6.60; 8. Cole Beck (VaT) 6.63.
II–1. Austin 6.53 PR; 2. Jones’ 6.54; 3. Anthony 6.54 PR; 4. Johnson 6.56; 5. Alaba Akintola’ (MTn-Ngr) 6.61; 6. Sterling Warner-Savage (Louis) 6.63; 7. **Godson Oghenebrume’ (LSU-Ngr) 6.69; 8. *Zachaeus Beard (NWnLa) 6.76.
200 Meters — Matthew Boling (Georgia) 20.12
Javonte Harding of Tennessee, who won this event last year for North Carolina A&T, ran 20.52 in his heat, just 0.06 slower than his winning time of last year (albeit on Birmingham’s slower oval), but ended up as the fastest non-qualifier. Also not advancing was Texas Tech’s list leader Courtney Lindsey.
In Section 1 of the final Matthew Boling was out well in lane 6 and seemed to maintain a slight lead through the final turn. Louisville’s Cameron Miller, who transferred from Florida to train under his father Tony Miller, seemed poised to make a move off the final turn in lane 4, but it was Robert Gregory, formerly of TCU but now at Florida, who started to make up ground to Boling’s left down the straight.
Boling, who tensed up off the final curve in last year’s meet and was DQed for stepping on the line, maintained his composure, and held off Gregory 20.12–20.22, with Miller 3rd (20.29), eventually giving them 1-3-4 in the composite standings.
In section 2 Alabama’s Tarsis Orogot, wearing cartoonish socks with some kind of yellow tassels, was in lane 6, but it was Stanford’s Udodi Onwuzurike, in 5, who was out best, making up the stagger on the Ugandan mid-way through the final turn.
But Onwuzurike, who had matched Orogot’s 20.17 in the heats, seemed to have trouble carrying his momentum off the final turn, as Orogot pumped his arms and glided by to take the section in 20.20, well ahead of Onwuzurike and Florida’s Jacory Patterson, both timed in 20.36. /Dan Lilot/
FINAL
(2-section time final)
1. Matthew Boling (Ga)
2. **Tarsis Orogot’ (Al-Uga)
3. **Robert Gregory (Fl)
4. *Cameron Miller (Louis)
5. **Udodi Onwuzurike’ (Stan-Ngr)
6. Jacory Patterson (Fl)
7. *Amir Willis (FlSt)
8. *Lance Lang (Ar)
Sections: I–1. Boling 20.12 PR (WL, AL, CL) (6, 7 W; 4, 4 A; 5, 5 C; 4, 4 AmC); 2. Gregory 20.22 PR (8, 11 A; 11, x C; 8, x AmC);
3. Miller 20.29; 4. Lang 20.75.
II–1. Orogot’ 20.20 (x, =12 C); 2. Onwuzurike’ 20.36; 3. Patterson 20.36; 4. Willis 20.56.
HEATS
I–1. Patterson 20.35; 2. Willis 20.48 PR; 3. Cole Beck (VaT) 20.67; 4. David Dunlap (NnAz) 20.69 =PR.
II–1. Miller 20.48; 2. *Javonte Harding (Tn) 20.52; 3. *Demar Francis’ (Bay-Jam) 20.66;… dq—Alaba Akintola’ (MTn-Ngr).
III–1. Orogot’ 20.17 NR (7, 8 W; 6, 6 C);
2. Lang 20.52; 3. *Marcellus Moore (Tx) 20.67; 4. *Kennedy Lightner (Ky) 20.71.
IV–1. Onwuzurike’ 20.17 NR (=7, =8 W; =6, =6 C); 2. Gregory 20.27 PR 0z(=10, x A; =10, x AmC);
3. Boling 20.31; 4. Courtney Lindsey (TxT) 20.60.
400 Meters — Elija Godwin (Georgia) 44.75
Such is the current quality of collegiate 400 running — and the cruelty of an inside lane — that Arizona State’s Justin Robinson, who had won the USATF title on this same track 3 weeks ago, could not make up for a slow start out of lane 3 in his heat, and failed to qualify for the final.
The final’s first section started fast, with the order off the break matching the starting positions in inverse order, as Elija Godwin of Georgia (lane 6) passed halfway in a blazing 20.92, well ahead of the Baylor pair of Hasani Barr and Matthew Moorer, with Michael Joseph of Kansas 4th.
But 20m after the bell, Barr fell hard, causing Joseph to slow significantly and finish well back and 7th overall (47.18). Up ahead, Godwin, who runs with low knee lift even in full flight, came off the final turn with low arm carriage as well, and looked like he might be vulnerable, as Moorer moved outside.
But the Bulldog senior, 3rd outdoors in both the NCAA and USATF last year, seemed to power to the line with his chest in 44.75, equaling his CL from the SEC. Moorer, who had run down Godwin in their heat, clocked a lifetime best, indoors or out, 45.08.
Section 2 went out a bit more slowly, with Florida’s Ryan Willie (21.25) taking advantage of lane 6, with the reverse lane order of Christopher Bailey (Arkansas), Emmanual Bynum (Tennessee) and Nathan Ezekiel (Baylor) in tow.
On the backstretch Bailey crept up a bit on Willie, but the Gator was too strong, his 44.93 absolute lifetime best putting him 2nd in the composite results behind Godwin. Bynum closed well, also running an absolute lifetime best (45.30) to nip Bailey by 0.02, putting them 4th and 5th behind Moorer from section 1. /Dan Lilot/
FINAL
(2-section time final)
1. Elija Godwin (Ga)
2. *Ryan Willie (Fl)
3. Matthew Moorer (Bay)
4. *Emmanuel Bynum (Tn)
5. Christopher Bailey (Ar)
6. **Nathaniel Ezekiel’ (Bay-Ngr)
7. *Michael Joseph’ (Ks-StL)
… dnf—*Hasani Barr (Bay)
Sections: I–1. Godwin 44.75 =PR (=WL, =AL, =CL) (5, =6 W; 5, =6 A; 4, =4 C) (20.92/23.83);
2. Moorer 45.08 PR (21.19/23.89); 3. Joseph’ 47.18 (21.49/25.69);… dnf—Barr (21.39).
II–1. Willie 44.93 PR (=8, =10 A; =9, =10 C; =7, =8 AmC) (21.25/23.68);
2. Bynum 45.30 PR (21.51/23.79); 3. Bailey 45.32 (21.37/23.95); 4. Ezekiel’ 45.73 (21.82/23.91).
HEATS
I–1. Bailey 45.33; 2. Joseph’ 45.81; 3. **Auhmad Robinson (TxAM) 45.93;… dq—Jonathan Jones (Tx).
II–1. Barr 45.57 PR; 2. **Justin Robinson (AzSt) 45.90; 3. *JeVaughn Powell (Fl) 46.04; 4. Evan Miller (SC) 46.06.
III–1. Moorer 45.45 PR; 2. Godwin 45.47; 3. Ezekiel’ 45.69 PR; 4. *Chris Robinson (Al) 46.00.
IV–1. Willie 45.37; 2. Bynum 45.52 PR; 3. ***Wanya McCoy’ (Clem-Bah) 46.07; 4. *Tomas Kersulis’ (Corn-Lit) 46.33.
800 Meters — Yusuf Bizimana (Texas) 1:46.02
With last year’s champ Brandon Miller having gone pro and runner-up Jonathan Jones opting for the 400, the event was wide open, with Yusuf Bizimana of Texas, last year’s 4th-placer, the only repeat finalist from 2022.
Clemson’s Tarees Rhoden, a perennial front runner, set off at an overly aggressive pace, building a gap of 3m after one lap (24.01) over fellow Jamaican Navasky Anderson (Mississippi State), with Bizimana another 5m back.
Not content with that tempo, Anderson moved to the lead after 350m, gapping Rhoden at 400 (50.55), with Bizimana still in 3rd in a more sensible 51.83.
Bizimana and teammate Crayton Carrozza made up some ground by 600, but the Texas pair couldn’t get around the long-striding Rhoden until after the penultimate turn, and it seemed as if Anderson might stay clear.
But Anderson, last year’s runner-up outdoors, started to slow considerably into the homestretch, and as Bizimana closed on his outside, the lanky Jamaican started to lean forward and drift outward, moving to lane 3 over the last 15m, causing the Brit to check his stride and come up short 1:45.90–1:46.02. A finish line judge immediately raised a yellow flag that would eventually result in a DQ for Anderson.
Carrozza held on for 3rd (1:46.78), as Handal Roban of Penn State closed well to nip Rhoden for 4th 1:47.28–1:47.35, as all were eventually moved up a spot.
Said Bizimana, “The last 200 was a bit of a blur, but what I do remember is that I was closing the gap. [Getting impeded] was not the way I thought the race would go, but I did know I was going to win this race no matter what.”
The Longhorn 1-2 was the first in the event since Villanova in ’68. /Dan Lilot/
FINAL
1. **Yusuf Bizimana’ (Tx-GB) 1:46.02 PR (CL) (51.83/54.19);
2. *Crayton Carrozza (Tx) 1:46.78 (52.02/54.76);
3. ***Handal Roban’ (PennSt-StV) 1:47.28 (52.37/54.91);
4. *Tarees Rhoden’ (Clem-Jam) 1:47.35 (51.03/56.32);
5. **Sam Austin (Fl) 1:48.19 (52.05/56.14);
6. Baylor Franklin (Ms) 1:48.21 (52.62/55.59);
7. ***Will Sumner (Ga) 1:51.46 (52.45/59.01);
… dq—[1]Navasky Anderson’ (MsSt-Jam) [1:45.90] (50.55/55.35).
HEATS
I–1. Austin 1:47.65; 2. Carrozza 1:47.66; 3. Rhoden’ 1:47.84; 4. Franklin 1:48.01 PR; 5. Roban’ 1:48.15; 6. **John Lester (Stan) 1:50.03; 7. **Ethan Brouw’ (NM-Aus) 1:53.90;… dnf—Ayman Zahafi’ (Mia-Mor).
II–1. Bizimana’ 1:49.24; 2. Anderson’ 1:49.67 PR; 3. Sumner 1:49.71; 4. **Samuel Rodman (Prin) 1:49.94; 5. Jason Gomez (IaSt) 1:50.32; 6. *Mahamed Sharif (Ct) 1:52.23; 7. Cass Elliott (Wa) 1:53.04;… dnf—Cebastian Gentil’ (IaSt-Hai).
Mile — Luke Houser (Washington) 4:03.33
Much of the story of the men’s mile this indoor season had been about the depth of Washington’s squad, with eight Huskies going sub-4:00 in a single race back in January. But each of those athletes had their own seasonal trajectory and racing plan, and of the 6 to declare for the NCAA Indoor mile, 4 qualified for the final.
Wake Forest’s Thomas Vanoppen, 4th in the outdoor 1500 last year, did not start due to a broken toe suffered in the heats.
With no altitude-based athletes in the final, no one was eager to push, with Oregon’s Elliott Cook the default leader in a sluggish 65.31 through 409m. Washington’s Brian Fay tried to take the lead after three laps, but couldn’t get to the rail, and had to wait another half lap, as teammates Luke Houser and last year’s outdoor 1500 champ Joe Waskom made it a Husky 1-2-3 just after halfway.
Fay let Houser move by on the inside approaching 3 to go, as the pace ratcheted up. On the penultimate lap, Anass Essayi of South Carolina moved into 2nd, while Drake’s Isaac Basten tried to pass Waskom, prompting him to move by Essayi onto his teammate’s shoulder, creating a big obstacle for anyone else to get around.
Off the final turn, Houser opened up some daylight, but Basten, boxed around the final turn, sped through on the inside, almost catching the unaware Houser at the line. The Bulldog’s final circuit was a quick 26.10, but it left him just short, as Houser held on by .03 in 4:03.33. Essayi (4:03.61) caught Waskom (4:03.73), as Husky frosh Nathan Green came up for 5th (4:03.85). Fay faded to 8th (4:05.07), but it was the first time four athletes from the same school scored in an event since UCLA in the ‘94 shot.
Said Waskom, who was only 6th among the Huskies in that January race, “I just had to stay patient. I was building momentum in every race this season, and I was confident that I could come out here and win.” /Dan Lilot/
FINAL
1. *Luke Houser (Wa) 4:03.33
(32.55, 33.28 [65.83], 31.88 [1:37.71], 29.92 [2:07.63], 30.66 [2:38.29], 29.80 [3:08.09], 28.85 [3:36.94], 26.39)
(26.39, 55.24, 85.04, 1:55.70);
2. *Isaac Basten (Drake) 4:03.36
(26.10, 54.56, 84.67, 1:55.30);
3. **Anass Essayi’ (SC-Mor) 4:03.61
(26.47, 54.94, 84.90, 1:55.12);
4. **Joe Waskom (Wa) 4:03.73
(26.73, 55.24, 85.16, 1:55.76);
5. ***Nathan Green (Wa) 4:03.86
(26.34, 54.82, 84.84, 1:55.22);
6. **Conor Murphy (Va) 4:04.22
(26.17, 55.13, 85.36, 1:55.98);
7. **Elliott Cook (Or) 4:04.27 (26.71, 55.39, 85.68, 1:56.44);
8. Brian Fay’ (Wa-Ire) 4:05.07
(27.03, 56.43, 86.69, 1:57.63);
9. Nick Foster (Mi) 4:05.58
(27.63, 55.98, 86.60, 1:56.86);
… dnc—Thomas Vanoppen’ (WF-Bel)
HEATS
I–1. Houser 4:09.31; 2. Green 4:09.41; 3. Basten 4:09.51; 4. Essayi’ 4:09.59; 5. **Ronan McMahon-Staggs (UCLA) 4:10.04; 6. *Matthew Rizzo (Gtn) 4:10.64; 7. Aaron Ahl’ (Wa-Can) 4:11.59; 8. **Adam Spencer’ (Wi-Aus) 4:13.71.
II–1. Waskom 4:02.68; 2. Fay’ 4:02.92; 3. Murphy 4:03.01; 4. Foster 4:03.23; 5. Cook 4:03.32; 6. Vanoppen’ 4:03.37; 7. Aidan Ryan (Wa) 4:04.43;… dnc—***Isaiah Givens (Co).
3000 Meters — Fouad Messaoudi (Oklahoma State) 7:48.10
Montana State’s Duncan Hamilton, the steeple runner-up last year, was one of only three entrants without another race in his legs, and with Albuquerque a similar altitude to Bozeman, the Bobcat senior set out from the gun to make it a race of attrition, as a quick opening lap left the field almost entirely single file by just 300m.
Northern Arizona’s Drew Bosley, who had done much of the work in the 5000, was also eager for a quick tempo, as he slotted into 2nd, followed by 5000 champ Dylan Jacobs.
Hamilton served up a steady diet of circuits in the 31-high range through 1600 in 4:12.00. As Hamilton approached 6 laps to go, Jacobs started to look vulnerable, and Fouad Messaoudi of Oklahoma State and Casey Clinger of BYU moved by into 3rd and 4th.
Hamilton continued to lead for almost another 4 laps, but the pace lagged, and he was passed by Bosley and Wisconsin’s Jackson Sharp, who had led off the Badger DMR the night before.
Bosley upped the tempo down the penultimate backstretch, with Messaoudi moving into 2nd. A lap later the Lumberjack, shorn of the mustache he had sported in the 5000, opened up a 2m gap, and looked poised to hold on. But Messaoudi, who had shown an excellent change of gears on his DMR 1200 leg, was too strong in the final straight, his 26.77 final circuit giving him the win over Bosley, 7:48.10–7:48.34. Sharp held on for 3rd ahead of Clinger, 7:48.66–7:49.37. Jacobs ended up 5th (7:52.25), while Hamilton faded to 9th (8:02.71).
Said Cowboy coach Dave Smith of Moroccan soph Messaoudi, who was overcome with emotion post-race, “He is one of the toughest, grittiest and most-competitive people I think I’ve ever met. He just refuses to lose”. /Dan Lilot/
RESULTS
1. **Fouad Messaoudi’ (OkSt-Mor) 7:48.10
(30.13, 32.29 [62.42], 31.94 [1:34.36], 31.73 [2:06.09], 31.78 [2:37.87], 31.36 [3:09.23], 32.16 [3:41.39], 31.62 [4:13.01], 31.37 [4:44.38], 32.25 [5:16.63], 32.41 [5:49.04], 32.05 [6:21.09], 31.50 [6:52.59], 28.75 [7:21.34], 26.76)
(26.76, 55.51, 1:59.06);
2. **Drew Bosley (NnAz) 7:48.34 (27.31, 55.95, 1:59.74);
3. *Jackson Sharp’ (Wi-Aus) 7:48.66 (27.23, 56.13, 1:59.16);
4. **Casey Clinger (BYU) 7:49.37 (27.49, 56.59, 2:00.60);
5. *Alex Maier (OkSt) 7:50.74 (28.38, 57.79, 2:01.14);
6. Dylan Jacobs (Tn) 7:52.25 (29.70, 59.24, 2:03.01);
7. **Jesse Hamlin (Butler) 8:01.22; 8. Kieran Lumb’ (Wa-Can) 8:02.63; 9. *Duncan Hamilton (MtSt) 8:02.71; 10. **Ky Robinson’ (Stan-Aus) 8:03.87; 11. Sam Gilman (AF) 8:05.67; 12. **Yaseen Abdalla’ (Tn-Sud) 8:06.72; 13. ***Graham Blanks (Harv) 8:10.11; 14. **Ryan Schoppe (OkSt) 8:12.19; 15. Brian Fay’ (Wa-Ire) 8:17.60;… dnc—**Anass Essayi’ (SC-Mor).
5000 — Dylan Jacobs (Tennessee) 13:37.59
The intriguing question going in to the longest race was whether the altitude-based athletes would try to run the legs, and kick, out of the sea-level crew, especially Tennessee’s Dylan Jacobs, who had had not only shown excellent form this season, but also lethal finishing speed in his SEC DMR/3000 double, not to mention his 10,000 title outdoors last year while competing for Notre Dame.
The Northern Arizona pair of Nico Young and Drew Bosley, who came down about 2000ft in elevation from Flagstaff, took up the challenge after a modest first 4 laps, with Bosley, the 3rd placer in cross country last fall, injecting a series of 31-mid circuits to stretch out the field single file, with Jacobs parked directly behind the Lumberjack duo.
Young, last year’s 3rd-placer both indoors and out, took over after a mile, but the pace lagged, with no major contenders dropping. Bosley, sporting a thick mustache, injected a fast lap (31.62) to come through 3000 in 8:14.05, but Jacobs, who had wisely covered the move gradually over a full circuit, now sat comfortably in 2nd.
With 1200 to go, Bosley injected another fast lap, but Jacobs, looking supremely confident, again took his time covering the move, as the leading group packed back up. Two laps later, Jacobs even tried to take the lead, but Bosley rebuffed him, as BYU’s Casey Clinger slipped past Young into 3rd.
Jacobs finally did move to the fore with 450 to go, and the final result was never in doubt, as he glided away over the final circuit, his 26.25 closer giving him the win in 13:37.59, excellent running at altitude. Clinger closed equally well, overtaking Bosley in the final straight 13.37.59–13:38.12, with Young 4th (13:40.55). /Dan Lilot/
RESULTS
1. Dylan Jacobs (Tn) 13:37.59
(31.57, 34.51 [66.08], 34.27 [1:40.35], 34.45 [2:14.80], 31.92 [2:46.72], 31.48 [3:18.20], 31.81 [3:50.01], 32.95 [4:22.96], 33.27 [4:56.23], 32.41 [5:28.64], 33.62 [6:02.26], 33.22 [6:35.48], 33.98 [7:09.46], 33.20 [7:42.66], 31.52 [8:14.18], 34.56 [8:48.74], 35.11 [9:23.85], 33.77 [9:57.62], 33.13 [10:30.75], 31.62 [11:02.37], 34.53 [11:36.90], 32.79 [12:09.69], 31.44 [12:41.13], 30.21 [13:11.34], 26.25)
(26.25, 56.46, 2:00.69);
2. **Casey Clinger (BYU) 13:38.12
(26.26, 56.47, 2:00.79);
3. **Drew Bosley (NnAz) 13:38.62
(27.01, 57.26, 2:01.74);
4. **Nico Young (NnAz) 13:40.55
(28.44, 58.64, 2:03.35);
5. **Parker Wolfe (NC) 13:43.69
(30.06, 60.83, 2:06.03);
6. **Patrick Kiprop (Ar) 13:45.16
(31.71, 62.63, 2:07.70);
7. **Ky Robinson’ (Stan-Aus) 13:47.11; 8. *Alex Maier (OkSt) 13:52.50; 9. *Charles Hicks’ (Stan-GB) 14:01.34; 10. **Joey Nokes (BYU) 14:01.43; 11. Barry Keane’ (Butler-Ire) 14:10.13; 12. *Acer Iverson (Harv) 14:18.88; 13. ***Graham Blanks (Harv) 14:19.55; 14. **Carter Solomon (NDm) 14:37.57; 15. *Devin Hart (Stan) 14:38.37; 16. Isai Rodriguez (OkSt) 14:56.13.
60 Hurdles — Giano Roberts (Clemson) 7.55
With Nebraska’s Darius Luff the only finalist from last year to make this year’s meet, the event was wide open. As the final began, the starter called up the field from the set position, and seemed to lecture Luff a bit longer than is customary.
After the race finally started, Northern Colorado frosh Jerome Campbell, who looked good setting a PR 7.56 in the heats (becoming his school’s first ever qualifier for an NCAA final) had the best start out of lane 5. But the Jamaican hit the first hurdle, losing much momentum, and would end up a well-back 7th (7.99).
Clemson’s Giano Roberts, who only made it into the final on time, started out in lane 7, but after the first hurdle he never trailed. He clipped the second barrier, and knocked over the third, but was mostly clean over the final two hurdles and carried that momentum to a 7.55 victory.
Ruff meanwhile knocked over the fourth, and seemed to stumble a bit off the final barrier, allowing Caleb Dean of Texas Tech to nip him for 2nd 7.59–7.60.
Roberts, 4th and 7th in the last two outdoor meets, but never a qualifier for the final indoors, notched the first title by a Tiger at this meet in any event since ’11; the win being extra meaningful after Clemson briefly dropped, then reinstated, men’s track two years ago. /Dan Lilot/
FINAL
1. Giano Roberts (Clem) 7.55 PR;
2. *Caleb Dean (TxT) 7.59;
3. *Darius Luff (Nb) 7.60;
4. *Jaheem Hayles’ (Syr-Jam) 7.61 PR;
5. Josh Brockman (NCSt) 7.67;
6. ***Antoine Andrews’ (TxT-Bah) 7.73;
7. ***Jerome Campbell’ (NnCo-Jam) 7.99;
… dnf—Omotade Ojora’ (USC-GB)
HEATS
I–1. Campbell’ 7.58 PR; 2. Brockman 7.63 PR; 3. Ojora’ 7.66; 4. Andrews’ 7.67; 5. *Jesse Henderson (Tn) 7.69; 6. Cameron Murray (NCSt) 7.69; 7. *Grant Conway (Ia) 7.83; 8. *De’ Vion Wilson (Hous) 8.01.
II–1. Luff 7.54 PR; 2. Dean 7.59; 3. Hayles’ 7.63 PR; 4. Roberts 7.66; 5. Joel Bengtsson’ (UTA-Swe) 7.70; 6. **Johnny Brackins (USC) 7.95;… dnf—*Brithton Senior’ (Nb-Jam);… dnc—Joshua Zeller’ (Mi-GB).
4 x 400 — Arkansas 3:02.09
With its 21st Indoor Championships team trophy firmly in hand, Arkansas was running for pride in an all-SEC final section that had four teams sporting season bests of 3:02.90 or faster.
Of course, the Hogs had the best of those times with a 3:01.09 from early February that made them the No. 2 collegiate team ever, but strange things can happen at the end of tumultuous NCAA meets.
Lining up with the same foursome that ran the CL, Arkansas was in last at the first exchange after a 46.48 split by Connor Washington, trailing Georgia’s 45.30 opener from 200 champ Matthew Boling and a 45.31 Alabama carry by Chris Robinson.
James Benson bided his time near the back until the final 150m of the second leg, weaving through traffic and swinging wide down the stretch to hand off first after a 44.91.
Tired legs from two days of heptathlon competition didn’t stop Ayden Owens-Delerme taking the stick for the third leg, and the Puerto Rican multi-eventer ran a respectable 46.56 to hold off a Georgia challenge and pass to Christopher Bailey with a lead of almost a half-second.
Chased by Georgia frosh Will Sumner and Florida’s Ryan Willie, Bailey turned on warp speed coming into the bell and ran away from everyone to stop the clock at 3:02.09 with a 44.14 carry that was the second-fastest ever indoors.
Sumner closed in 44.75 to give the Bulldogs silver, while 400 runner-up Willie showed signs of fatigue after his 44.93 PR in the open event and brought the Gators across for bronze. UCLA and Oklahoma, initially winners of the first two sections with times that would have earned top-five spots, both earned DQs, the Bruins for a lane violation and the Sooners for obstruction. /Glen McMicken/
RESULTS
(3-section time final)
1. Arkansas
2. Georgia
3. USC
4. Arizona State
5. Baylor
6. Texas A&M
7. Florida
8. Alabama
9. Clemson
10. Tennessee
… dq[obstruction]—[2]Oklahoma
… dq[lane]—[5]UCLA
Sections: I–1. Texas A&M 3:03.88
(Robinson 45.98, Hemphill 45.56, Escobar 45.77, Schwartzman 46.57); 2. Clemson 3:05.20
(McCoy’ 46.01, Rhoden’ 45.38, Rose 47.11, Thornton 46.70);
3. Tennessee 3:08.61
(Bynum 47.99, Ducos’ 46.47, Hale 46.59, Griffith 47.56);
… dq[lane]—[1]UCLA [3:03.17]
(Nortje 45.90, 45.64, 45.82, Turner 45.81).
II–1. USC 3:03.16
(Braun 45.88, Allen 45.95, Jones 45.28, Blockburger 46.05);
2. Arizona State 3:03.58
(Drayden 46.86, Curry 45.50, Nwachukwu’ 45.59, Robinson 45.63);
3. Baylor 3:03.60
(Bedell 46.71, Ezekiel’ 45.41, Francis’ 45.47, Moorer 46.01);
… dq—[1]Oklahoma [3:02.97]
(Brown 46.21, Epps 45.94, Bour 45.20, Mattar 45.62).
III–1. Arkansas 3:02.09 (=9 C)
(Washington 46.48, Benson 44.91, Owens-Delerme’ 46.56, Bailey 44.14);
2. Georgia 3:03.10
(Boling 45.30, Morales Williams 46.68, Cavanaugh 46.37, Sumner 44.75);
3. Florida 3:03.96
(Patterson 46.41, Bamidele’ 46.02, Miley 46.10, Willie 45.43);
4. Alabama 3:04.42
(Robinson 45.31, Jackson 47.44, Orogot’ 46.40, McRae 45.27).
Distance Medley — Oklahoma State 9:28.77
The DMR at nationals has traditionally featured a good number of athletes doubling back from earlier mile or 800 qualifying, but with the advent of separate men’s and women’s meet chunks, those competing in the mile heats now have less than 2 hours before the DMR, compared to about 3 prior to the change.
This may have factored into Oklahoma State coach Dave Smith opting for Fouad Messaoudi and Ryan Schoppe, the 1200 and 1600 legs from their Collegiate Record setting foursome three weeks prior, to skip the mile for the 3000, a day after the relay. The gambit paid off.
After a tepid first 4 laps, Messaoudi put in a big move on the backstretch, eventually building a lead of over 2s with his 2:53.76 carry.
Reigning outdoor 1500 champ Joe Waskom of Washington, coming off a successful mile heat, looked a bit flat, as he handed off in 5th after a 2:56.29 leg.
The Cowboys swapped out the next two legs from their CR-setting foursome, but once again, the strategy paid off, as Charlie Bartholomew slightly extended their lead with his 46.67 carry, handing off to Juan Diego Castro, now with a 2.36 gap over closest challenger Wisconsin.
Abdullahi Hassan, Wisconsin’s 800 leg, took off at a bold, if reckless, pace, catching up to and passing Castro after 300m. The only question was how badly would Hassan fade over his final lap, Castro having retaken the lead. The answer was not as badly as he might have, as he still split 1:47.45, faster than Castro’s 1:47.85.
Schoppe took off with a 2-second lead, with all but two anchors appeared to be in striking distance should he falter. But Schoppe stayed poised, running an even 4:00.50, while his chasers suffered by starting out too quickly for the altitude, as Oklahoma State notched a comfortable 9:28.77 victory, their first ever in any indoor event.
Mississippi’s Anthony Camerieri had the fastest final leg (3:57.70) to finish ahead of Wisconsin (9:31.77) and Washington (9:31.77).
Said Smith, “We just decided to run from the gun and make people come get us.” /Dan Lilot/
RESULTS
1. Oklahoma State 9:28.77
(Messaoudi’ 2:53.76, Bartholomew 46.66, Castro’ 1:47.85, Schoppe 4:00.50);
2. Mississippi 9:31.63
(Bracken 2:58.01, Flatt 48.86, Crorken’ 1:47.27, Camerieri 3:57.49);
3. Wisconsin 9:31.77
(Sharp 2:55.93, Williams 46.85, Hassan 1:47.44, Liking 4:01.55);
4. Washington 9:31.97
(Waskom 2:56.34, Gaik 47.53, Green’ 1:48.39, Lumb’ 3:59.71);
5. Indiana 9:33.32
(Marshall 2:56.29, Vaugn 47.21, Raymond 1:49.25, Gebhardt 4:00.57);
6. North Carolina 9:33.68
(Hunt 2:55.71, Williams 48.08, Reinheimer 1:48.30, Strand 4:01.59);
7. Arkansas 9:34.82
(Shearer 2:57.23, Benson 45.87, Russell’ 1:49.00, Schreml’ 4:02.72);
8. BYU 9:39.45
(Rooks 2:56.67, Jackson 46.68, Fernandez 1:46.88, Bons 4:09.22);
9. Michigan 9:41.65 ◻︎
(C. Johnson 2:56.64, Amene 47.44, H. Johnson 1:49.26, Jha 4:08.31);
10. Texas 9:52.29
(Gomez 2:59.25, Jones’ 46.23, Bizimana’ 1:51.65, Carrozza 4:15.16);
11. Villanova 9:55.89
(O’Donovan’ 3:03.77, Milgie 48.06, Dolan 1:49.84, Murphy 4:14.22);
… dq—[4]Tennessee [9:31.87]
(Anderson 2:57.96, Griffith’ 46.20, Hoots 1:47.97, Abdalla 3:59.74). ◻︎